Comparing the improvement of unstable vitiligo in patients treated by topical PUVA-therapy alone, topical PUVA-therapy and oral vitamin D, and topical PUVA-therapy and oral vitamin D and vitamin B12

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired multifactorial disorder. Different treatments are used for it and all of them have adverse side-effects. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease associated with other autoimmune diseases such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and so on. In these diseases, deficiency of vitamin D and B12 are proposed. So in this study, treatment response and remission in patients taking oral vitamin D and B12 was administered. Methods: 60 patients with active vitiligo were randomly divided into three groups. Group I received topical PUVA for 6 months; group II received topical PUVA and 1 cc oral drops of vitamin D3 daily for 2 months, and then topical PUVA alone for following 4 months; and group III received topical PUVA and 1 cc oral drops of vitamin D3 daily and sublingual tablets of vitamin B12 daily for 2 months, and then treated with topical PUVA for following 4months. Cure rate and side effects were evaluated using Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) at the third and sixth months. Findings: In each of the three treated groups at different times, the average changes in the area and extent of the lesion were not significantly different. Pruritus and erythema occurred in some patients. Conclusion: In this study, the reduction in the extent and area of lesions in the group receiving vitamin D compared to the control group were higher that indicated the role of vitamin D in preventing progression of active vitiligo. © 2017, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.