Does Pimecrolimus Cream Enhance the Effect of Excimer Laser on Eyelid Vitiligo?

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Vitiligo is a cutaneous disorder of pigmentation, for which, there are some proven modalities of treatment. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the addition of topical pimecrolimus to ۳۰۸nm Excimer laser in reducing treatment duration and improving the response rate of eyelid vitiligo, compared with ۳۰۸nm Excimer laser monotherapy.METHODS: Fifty two symmetrically localized lesions of eyelid vitiligo in ۲۶ patients were observed. Each of vitiliginous patches was treated with ۳۰۸nm Excimer laser twice a week for a total of ۳۰ sessions. Topical pimecrolimus ۱% cream was applied to the patches of right eyelid(group A lesions) and eucerine cream as a placebo to the left side patches(group B lesions)twice daily, throughout the study. Photographs were taken at baseline, ۶ and ۱۵ weeks after starting the treatment.RESULTS: Twenty two patients (۴۴ lesions) completed the study. Repigmentation was appeared in all (۱۰۰%) of groups A and B lesions. A ۷۵% or more repigmentation was achieved in ۱۷(۷۸%) of group A versus ۱۴ (۶۴%) of group B lesions. The average number of sessions needed for the appearance of repigmentation was ۸ for group A lesions and ۱۲ for group. The repigmentaion of ۵۰% or more in patients with disease duration of ۲ years or less and those with more than ۲ years duration ere ۱۰۰% and ۵۹.۲%, respectively.CONCLUSION: Repigmentation rate obtained by the combination therapy of eyelid vitiligo with ۳۰۸nm Excimer laser and topical Pimecrolimus ۱%cream is significantly higher, and obtained in fewer sessions in comparison with ۳۰۸nm Excimer laser and placebo combination therapy. Keywords: Pimecrolimus Lasers Excimer Vitiligo Eyelid Clinical Trial Laser Therapy