This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Excimer laser/light combined with topical calcineurin inhibitors effective for vitiligo
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Combination therapy with topical calcineurin inhibitors and excimer laser/light was more effective than excimer laser/light monotherapy in treating vitiligo, according to the recent study results.
Researchers in Korea conducted searches of Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases from inception through Dec. 15, 2014, to identify randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of excimer laser/light (EL) alone or in combination with topical agents for vitiligo.
Treatment success (≥ 75% repigmentation) was primary outcome and treatment failure (≤ 25% repigmentation) was secondary outcome, with meta-analysis performed.
The analysis included eight randomized control trials involving 276 patients. A combination therapy group included 214 patches or patients and the EL monotherapy cohort included 211 patients or patients.
“The combination of EL and topical calcineurin inhibitors (4 studies; relative risk = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.28-2.91; number needed to treat 4.5; 95% CI, 2.9-10) was superior to EL monotherapy for vitiligo,” the researchers wrote.
Beneficial effects of treatments with topical vitamin-D3 analogs and corticosteroids displayed insufficient evidence in studies.
“This systematic review revealed that adding topical calcineurin inhibitors on EL yields significantly superior outcomes than EL monotherapy,” the researchers concluded. “Addition of topical vitamin-D3 analogs or topical corticosteroids on EL showed insufficient evidence to support their use in combination therapies. Considering the difficulties in complete recovery of vitiligo, the combination therapies enhancing the treatment response are promising. However, more clinical trials are needed to determine the efficacy of diverse combinations with EL.” – by Bruce Thiel
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts