A Low Dose Narrow-band UVB Therapy for Generalized Vitiligo Vulgaris

Abstract

We have previously reported that narrow-bandUVB (NBUVB) monotherapy and combination therapy using NBUVB plus topical calcipotriol are effective modalities for recalcitrant generalized vitiligo vulgaris. These NBUVB therapies are predicated on NBUVB minimal erythema dose (nMED). This report addresses how low dose NBUVB therapy without increments was an effective modality for a 59-year-old Japanese male with emphysema. We irradiated the patient with low dose NBUVB, which was under 0.7 nMED 13 times, to his cheeks and found pigmented macules in the vitiliginous lesions. Then we examined and compared the vitiliginous lesion with the newly pigmented macula histologically. After examining the clinical and histological findings, we believe this low dose NBUVB therapy was efficacious for his generalized vitiligo vulgaris with an underlying disease, emphysema and a high threshold nMED.