Effect of tacrolimus ointment combined with 308 nm excimer laser irradiation in the treatment of vitiligo

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effects of tacrolimus ointment combined with 308 nm excimer laser irradiation in the treatment of vitiligo.

MethodsA total of 130 patients with vitiligo were divided into the observation group and control group according to the random number table method(65 cases each group).The control group was treated with 308 nm excimer laser irradiation, and the observation group was additionally treated with tacrolimus ointment for 2 times/d based on the control group.After 3 months of treatment, the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions between two groups were compared, and the level of IL-17 in the lesions of two groups were measured and compared.

ResultsThe total clinical effective rate in observation group(81.54%, 53/65) was higher than that in control group(60.00%, 39/65)(P < 0.01).The total effective rate in progressive stage was higher than that in stable stage in two groups(P < 0.05), and the differences of the total effective rates in progressive stage and stable stage between two groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Before treatment, the difference of the level of IL-17 between two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).After treatment, the levels of IL-17 in two groups significantly decreased(P < 0.01), and the level of IL-17 in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group(P < 0.01).The incidence rates of adverse reaction in observation group and control group were(10.77%, 7/65) and 7.69%(5/65), respectively, and the difference of which was not statistically significant(P>0.05).

ConclusionsTacrolimus ointment combined with 308 nm excimer laser irradiation in treating vitiligo can effectively improve the clinical efficacy and reduce the IL-17 level in the lesion area, and has no obvious adverse reaction.