Treatment of vitiligo vulgaris with narrow-band UVB and oral polypodium leucotomos extract: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study Journal Article
| Authors: | Middelkamp-Hup, M. A.; Bos, J. D.; Rius-Diaz, F.; Gonzalez, S.; Westerhof, W. |
| Article Title: | Treatment of vitiligo vulgaris with narrow-band UVB and oral polypodium leucotomos extract: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study |
| Abstract: | Background: The first choice treatment for vitiligo vulgaris is narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB), but no satisfactory treatment exists. Objectives: To investigate if Polypodium leucotomos , an antioxidative and immunomodulatory plant extract, improves NB-UVB-induced repigmentation. Methods: Fifty patients with vitiligo vulgaris randomly received 250 mg oral P. leucotomos or placebo three times daily, combined with NB-UVB twice weekly for 25-26 weeks. Results: Repigmentation was higher in the P. leucotomos group vs. placebo in the head and neck area (44% vs. 27%, P = 0.06). Small repigmentation increases (P = n.s.) were observed for the trunk (6% increased repigmentation), extremities (4%), and hands and feet (5%) in the P. leucotomos group vs. placebo. Patients attending more than 80% of required NB-UVB sessions showed increased repigmentation in the head and neck area in the P. leucotomos group vs. placebo (50% vs. 19%, P < 0.002); no significant differences were seen in the other body areas. Patients with skin types 2 and 3 showed more repigmentation in the head and neck area in the P. leucotomos group vs. placebo (47% vs. 21%, P = 0.01), and no significant differences were seen in the other body areas. No conclusions could be drawn on skin types 4 and 5 due to low patient numbers. Conclusion: There is a clear trend towards an increase in repigmentation of vitiligo vulgaris affecting the head and neck area when NB-UVB phototherapy is combined with oral P. leucotomos. This effect may be more pronounced in light skin types. © 2007 The AuthorsJournal compilation © 2007 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. |
| Keywords: | adult; controlled study; treatment outcome; aged; middle aged; major clinical study; clinical trial; placebo; combined modality therapy; prospective studies; quality of life; controlled clinical trial; skin pigmentation; randomized controlled trial; interleukin 10; disease severity; severity of illness index; tumor necrosis factor alpha; gamma interferon; limb; blood analysis; scoring system; interleukin 6; cytokine production; immunomodulation; neck; plant extract; phytotherapy; plant extracts; antioxidant; ultraviolet b radiation; double blind procedure; double-blind method; administration, oral; statistics, nonparametric; polypodium leucotomos extract; polypodium; herbal medicine; foot; hand; head; polypodium leucotomos; vitiligo; skin color; trunk; phototherapy; narrow-band uvb; vitiligo vulgaris; ultraviolet therapy |
| Journal Title: | Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology |
| Volume: | 21 |
| Issue: | 7 |
| ISSN: | 0926-9959 |
| Publisher: | Wiley Blackwell |
| Date Published: | 2007-08-01 |
| Start Page: | 942 |
| End Page: | 950 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.02132.x |
| PUBMED: | 17659004 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 18" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: JEAVE" - "Source: Scopus" |
