EFFICACY OF TOPICAL LATANOPROST SOLUTION VERSUS NARROW BAND ULTRAVIOLET B RAYS IN TREATMENT OF VITILIGO

Azhar Sayed Ahmad*, Mohamad Ismaiel and Abdullah Alhkayer

ABSTRACT

Background: Vitiligo is considered one of the most common disorder of acquired depigmentation, which is associated with significant morbidity. Although several interventions are available, no definite cure has yet been developed. Therefore, alternative treatments have been developed. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical latanoprost versus Narrowband Ultraviolet B therapy (NB-UVB) in treatment of vitiligo. Materials and Methods: This was clinical trial (Prospective) involved 80 patients with a diagnosis of stable symmetrical non-segmental vitiligo referred to clinic of dermatology, Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, during one-year period (2022-2023). One side of the body was randomly treated with application of latanoprost, while the other side was exposed to NB-UVB and final outcome was compared between two methods. Results: Out of 80 patients, 25 (31.3%) were male and 55 (68.8%) were female, with mean age of the patients was 16.1±7.92 years. Acrofacial (51.3%) and common vitiligo (42.5%) represented the most frequent types of the disease, and the most common sites of vitiligo involvement were face (37.5%) followed by hand and feet (21.3%). Excellent- very good response in repigmentation occurred in 73.8% of the patients in latanoprost group versus 70% in NB-UVB. Regarding of side effects, hair growth on the face was reported in 13.8% of the patients in latanoprost group and first –degree burn in 10% in the other group. Periocular region responded better to treatment than those in other body parts in two groups without any association between improvement and the following variables: gender, family history of vitiligo, duration of disease, and type of disease (p>0.05). Conclusion: The current study showed that latanoprost lead to favorable results in patients with stable non-segmental vitiligo .Except of hair growth on the face after the procedure, significant complications didn’t occur in most patients.

Keywords: latanoprost, Narrowband Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB), outcome, stable, vitiligo.