Efficacy of 308-nm excimer laser in treating non-facialvitiligo lesions: a retrospective study in Iranian patients

Rahimnia, Amirhossein; Boroumand Sani, Sepehr; Ehsani, Amir Houshang; Nourmohammadpour, Pedram; Etesami, Ifa; Shams Azar, Pasha Reza; Lotfi, Fatemeh; Koohian Mohammadabadi, Mina; Ehsani, Ala

doi:10.22034/ijd.2024.495753.1954

Efficacy of 308-nm excimer laser in treating non-facialvitiligo lesions: a retrospective study in Iranian patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Amirhossein Rahimnia ¹^{, 2}

Sepehr Boroumand Sani ¹^{, 2}

Amir houshang Ehsani ¹^{, 2}

Pedram Nourmohammadpour ¹^{, 2}

Ifa Etesami ¹^{, 2}

Pasha Reza Shams Azar ³

Fatemeh Lotfi ⁴

Mina Koohian Mohammadabadi ⁴

Ala Ehsani ⁵^{, 6}

¹ Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

² Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁵ Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁶ Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/ijd.2024.495753.1954

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder characterized by depigmented patches, affecting 0.2-1.8% of the population. Effective treatments are essential due to the significant impact of the disease on patients’ quality of life. The excimer laser, which emits UVB light at 308 nm, has shown promise in treating vitiligo, however its efficacy in non-facial lesions remains underexplored. This study investigates the response of Iranian patients with extra facial vitiligo to excimer laser treatment and identifies factors influencing clinical outcomes.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 50 patients treated at two dermatology centers in Tehran between 2023 and 2024. All patients had stable non-segmental vitiligo affecting nonfacial areas. Treatment was administered assessed using a 308-nm excimer laser (MED-UV®). Clinical photography and physicianassessed improvement scores were used to evaluate outcomes. Statistical analyses included Student’s t-test, ANOVA, and correlation coefficients.
Results: Overall treatment response varies by body location, with the neck and abdomen showing the greatest improvement, while the back, elbow, and knee exhibited the least response (P < 0.001). Factors such as gender, Fitzpatrick skin type, and age did not significantly affect the outcome. The number of treatment sessions positively influenced the response in the chest and elbow, and higher laser doses were associated with greater improvement in the neck, chest, and total lesions.
Conclusion: The 308-nm excimer laser is an effective treatment for non-facial vitiligo. Key factors influencing treatment efficacy include the laser dose and the number of treatment sessions, while demographic factors appear to have little impact. These insights can help optimize treatment plans for patients with vitiligo.

Keywords

vitiligo

laser therapy

treatment outcome

lasers

excimer