Background: Only a few clinical trials have been performed on the treatment of generalized vitiligo in children. Recently, narrow-band UVB therapy has been reported to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in adult patients with vitiligo.
Objective: We studied the efficacy and safety of UVB (311 nm) therapy in children with generalized vitiligo and evaluated the effect of the therapy on the quality of life in these children.
Methods: In an open trial, 51 children (20 males, 31 females) with generalized vitiligo were treated twice weekly with narrow-band UVB radiation therapy for the maximum period of 1 year. The Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) was used to evaluate the psychosocial impact of disease and treatment and was scored before and after therapy.
Results: The treatment resulted in more than 75% overall repigmentation in 53% of patients and in stabilization of the disease in 80%. Responsiveness to therapy was positively correlated with localization of the lesions and the patients' compliance. Adverse events were limited and transient. The better the repigmentation grade, the better the CDLQI scores had improved.
Conclusion: Narrow-band UVB therapy is effective and safe in childhood vitiligo; it also may significantly improve the quality of life.