Background
Updates of treatment methods of stable vitiligo are needed to give better outcomes with a shorter duration of treatment.
Objective
To test the effect of transdermal 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) delivery using fractional CO2 (FrCO2) laser versus intralesional 5‐FU injection, with narrow‐band type ultraviolet B (UVB) (NB‐UVB) therapy after both, in the treatment of stable vitiligo.
Patients and methods
The present study comprised 40 patients with nearly symmetrical stable vitiligo lesions. The left side was treated with FrCO2 laser followed by topical 5‐FU (FrCO2 + 5‐FU), while the right side was treated with 5‐FU intradermal injection. Both procedures were done at 2‐week intervals for 3 sessions followed by 24 sessions of narrow‐band UVB for both sides.
Results
Repigmentation was demonstrated on the left side of 90% of patients and the right side of 85% of patients. As much as >50% improvement was demonstrated on the left side of 50% of patients, and the right side of 55% of patients. Intralesional 5‐FU showed a statistically significant difference in repigmentation compared to FrCO2 + 5‐FU.
Conclusion
Both 5‐FU injection and FrCO2 + 5‐FU were effective therapeutic modalities for vitiligo. Patients were more compliant with FrCO2 + 5‐FU.
Background: Vitiligo is a chronic cutaneous disease characterized by depigmented patches that leave psychological impact on the patients. New treatment modalities have been developed to improve the results vitiligo with less side effects.
Objective: To evaluate intralesional injection of 5-fluorouracil in treatment of vitiligo.
Patients and Methods: The study included 20 localized stable vitiligo patients. Each patient was treated with intralesional injection of 5-fluorouracil every 2 weeks for 3 sessions followed by narrow band sessions twice weekly for 3 months.
Results: There was statistically significant repigmentation after treatment with intralesional 5-FU (mean of 50.30 ± 34.60, P value =0.001 Wilcoxon signed ranks test between before and after). 55% of patients showed >50% repigmentation. after 3 months therapy. Side effects were minimal and transient.
Conclusion: Intralesional injection of 5-FU is safe and effective in the treatment of vitiligo.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.