A retrospective study of narrowband-UVB phototherapy for treatment of vitiligo in Malaysian patients

Psoralen and ultraviolet light A (PUVA) was the mainstay of vitiligo treatment before the introduction of narrowband UVB(NB-UVB). Eighteen patients treated with NB-UVB in Hospital Kuala Lumpur were retrospectively analyzed. Eight patients had Fitzpatrick skin phototype III and 10 with phototype IV. The mean duration of disease was 7.3 +/- 5.4 years, and the mean body surface area affected was 19.3 +/- 16.2%. Mean duration of treatment was 14.3 +/- 9.6 months, number of session 113.5 +/- 88.6 times and cumulative dose 111.7 +/- 108.5 J/ cm2. Concomitant topical steroid was used in 88.9% patients. Repigmentation was moderate in 6 (40%) patients, good in 3 (20%), while 3 (20%) achieved excellent results. One patient (6.6%) showed no response and 2 (13.3%) showed poor repigmentation. Three patients developed side effects. NB-UVB phototherapy results in satisfactory repigmentation in our vitiligo patients and should be offered as a treatment option.