Treatment of localized non-segmental vitiligo with intradermal 5-flurouracil injection combined with narrow-band ultraviolet B: A preliminary study

• Published in: The Journal of dermatological treatment 2012-12, Vol.23 (6), p.443-448
• Main Authors: Abd El-Samad, Zeinab, Shaaban, Dalia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5-fluorouracil; Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Combined Modality Therapy; Dermatology; Female; Fluorouracil - administration & dosage; Fluorouracil - adverse effects; Fluorouracil - therapeutic use; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - administration & dosage; Immunosuppressive Agents - adverse effects; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Injections, Intradermal; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; narrow-band UVB; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pigmentary diseases of the skin; Skin, nail, hair, dermoskeleton; Treatment Outcome; Ultraviolet Therapy - methods; vitiligo; Vitiligo - drug therapy; Vitiligo - radiotherapy
• ISSN: 0954-6634; 1471-1753
• DOI: 10.3109/09546634.2011.579084

Abstract Background: Several treatment modalities had been used for the treatment of vitiligo but the optimal treatment has not yet been identified. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal injection of 5-flurouracil (5-FU) combined with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) as a treatment option for vitiligo. Patients and methods: The study included 60 vitiligo patients with overall symmetrical lesions affecting less than 30% of body surface area. For each patient, one side of the body was treated with NB-UVB alone (control side) while the other side was treated with NB-UVB therapy in addition to intradermal injection of 5-FU (50 mg/ml), 0.01-0.02 ml per injection with 1 cm apart in skin of vitiligo, every 2 weeks for 4 months. Results: The overall repigmentation was significantly higher in the 5-FU side compared with control side in all body parts (p < 0.001) except for the acral lesions where the difference was not significant (p = 0.561). No systemic side effects of 5-FU were detected, and the majority of the patients reported pain during injections. Conclusions: Intradermal 5-FU injection in combination with NB-UVB could be considered as a simple, safe, tolerable and cheap technique for treatment of vitiligo. It shortens the duration of NB-UVB therapy and improves the outcome, repigmentation. Longer follow-up is needed.