Comparative efficacy between localized 308-nm excimer light and targeted 311-nm narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy in vitiligo: A randomized, single-blind comparison study.

Background: There are limited data to compare efficacy between recent 308-nm excimer and conventional 311-nm narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) light in the treatment of vitiligo.

Objective: To compare efficacy between 308-nm excimer light and 311-nm NB-UVB in patients with symmetrical vitiligo lesions.

Methods: Thirty-six symmetrically paired vitiligo lesions on the same anatomical area were enrolled. One side of the symmetrical lesions was treated with localized 308-nm excimer light, and the opposite side was treated with targeted 311-nm NB-UVB assigned randomly by computer. All lesions were treated with the same protocol, for 48 sessions. Repigmentation was evaluated using Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) and grading the repigmentation was carried out with three independent investigators.

Results: Thirty-six symmetrically vitiligo lesions were randomly treated, one side with 308-nm excimer light and the opposite side with 311-nm NB-UVB. After 48 sessions, a significantly lower VASI score and a higher grade of repigmentation were observed in 308-nm excimer light-treated side (P < .001). Nine lesions (25%) treated with 308-nm excimer light and only five lesions (13.89%) treated with 311-nm NB-UVB achieved excellent repigmentation. The 308-nm excimer light and 311-nm NB-UVB-treated sides rapidly obtained 25% repigmentation within a mean of 19.42 sessions and 26.25 sessions, respectively (P = .002). There was no significant difference in mean cumulative UV dosage (P = .065). Side effect as phototoxicity was similar in both sides (P = .08).

Conclusion: Localized 308-nm excimer light appears to be more effective and also more rapidly induces repigmentation than targeted 311-nm NB-UVB for treatment of vitiligo.