Vitiligo following narrow-band TL-01 phototherapy for psoriasis

Psoriasis on Lesions of Vitiligo: A Case Report

Vitiligo and psoriasis are common T cell-mediated autoimmune skin diseases, and the association of the two disorders has been well known. In most cases, vitiligo precedes the onset of psoriasis. In this study, we reported a case of vitiligo who developed psoriasis following an upper respiratory tract infection with a uniform shape of psoriatic lesions at the phototherapy site of vitiligo. After 2 months of discontinuation of phototherapy and concurrent treatment with topical corticosteroid and calcipotriol, the psoriasis lesions were significantly improved.

Review of narrowband ultraviolet B radiation in vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common, acquired pigmentary disorder of unknown etiology with great impact on patient’s appearance and quality of life. It presents a therapeutic challenge to many dermatologists. Photochemotherapy using psoralen and ultraviolet A (UVA) therapy, topical and oral immunosuppresants, as well as cosmetic camouflage are also commonly employed with varying clinical efficacy. Phototherapy is a popular treatment option, which includes both of the generalized ultraviolet B (UVB) therapies, broadband UVB and narrowband UVB (NB-UVB). It has been used favorably, both alone as well as in combination with other agents like topical calcineurin inhibitors, vitamin-D analogs. Combination therapies are useful and may provide quicker regimentation and treat vitiligo with an additive mechanism of action than UVB phototherapy. Advances in technology may lead to the continuing use of UVB phototherapy as a treatment for vitiligo through the development of sophisticated devices and delivery systems as well as innovative application methods. These will provide increased therapeutic options for all vitiligo patients, particularly those with refractory disease. In this article, I have reviewed the available data pertaining to efficacy and safety issues for NB-UVB as monotherapy, its comparison with psoralen plus UVA and other modes of phototherapy, combination regimens that have been tried and future prospects of NB-UVB in vitiligo.

The Coexistence of Psoriasis and Vitiligo: A review

Background:

Psoriasis and vitiligo are both autoimmune diseases with an increased incidence noted in genetic relatives. They share similar trigger factors and have been observed to coexist in individuals.

Objective:

The purpose was to review the literature on the coexistence of psoriasis and vitiligo and to determine if there is a higher than expected prevalence of psoriasis in patients with vitiligo and vice versa.

Methods:

A literature review was conducted using Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from 1968 to 2010. All articles that included reports of individuals with both psoriasis and vitiligo in the English language were documented.

Results:

We identified 338 articles, among which 35 case reports and 7 case series were mentioned. For each case series, the prevalence of psoriasis in patients with vitiligo, or vice versa, falls within the prevalence range of the background population on which the study was based.

Conclusion:

An increase in the expected prevalence of psoriasis in individuals with vitiligo, or vice versa, was not found in our study, suggesting that the coexistence of the two diseases appears to be due to chance alone. Large epidemiologic studies are required to address with certainty whether psoriasis is more common in individuals with vitiligo and vice versa.

Renseignements de base:

Le psoriasis et le vitiligo sont deux affections auto-immunes qui ont une incidence accrue observée chez les membres de la famille apparentée. Ils partagent des facteurs déclencheurs similaires, et des études ont démontré leur coexistence chez les personnes.

Objectif:

Le but était de faire une analyse documentaire sur la coexistence du psoriasis et du vitiligo et de déterminer s'il y a une prévalence plus élevée que prévu du psoriasis chez les patients atteints de vitiligo et vice versa.

Méthodes:

Une analyse documentaire a été effectuée en utilisant Medline, EMBASE, et la Cochrane Library de 1968 à 2010. Tous les articles comportant des rapports sur des personnes souffrant à la fois de psoriasis et de vitiligo rédigés en anglais ont été documentés.

Résultats:

Nous avons trouvé 338 articles, parmi lesquels 35 exposés de cas et 7 séries de cas ont été mentionnés. Pour chaque série de cas, la prévalence du psoriasis chez les patients atteints de vitiligo, ou vice versa, s'inscrit dans la fourchette de prévalence de la population de base qui a fait l'objet de l'étude.

Conclusion:

Notre étude n'a pas démontré une augmentation de la prévalence de psoriasis attendue chez les personnes atteintes de vitiligo, ou vice versa, ce qui suggère que la coexistence des deux affections semble être due au seul hasard. D'importantes études épidémiologiques sont nécessaires pour démontrer avec certitude que le psoriasis est plus fréquent chez les personnes atteintes de vitiligo et vice versa.

Worsening of Vitiligo and Onset of New Psoriasiform Dermatitis following Treatment with Infliximab

Background:

Vitiligo is a depigmentation disorder caused by melanocyte destruction that possibly results from an autoimmune mechanism. Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, chronic, inflammatory dermatosis. Although tumor necrosis factor α antagonists (anti-TNF-α), such as infliximab, are effective in treating psoriasis, many cases reported in the literature indicate that psoriasis might also be induced by treatment with infliximab. Some studies also suggest that TNF-α antagonists might be an effective treatment for vitiligo because the disorder is characterized by increased levels of TNF-α, indicating that it might play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Objective:

We report a case of psoriasiform dermatitis with vacuolar interface reaction that occurred after infliximab therapy in a patient with vitiligo.

Method:

A 17-year-old male patient with vitiligo vulgaris was treated with an intravenous infusion of 5 mg/kg of infliximab at 0, 2, and 6 weeks and then once every 6 weeks over a span of 6 months. The patient was monitored both clinically and with laboratory investigations. He had no personal or family history of psoriasis. He tolerated the treatment well, without side effects. However, he developed a biopsy-proven psoriasiform lesion for the first time 4 months after he completed his sixth dose of infliximab. His vitiligo also worsened.

Conclusion:

This case report shows that infliximab given for vitiligo did not improve the disorder and that the vitiligo actually progressed. Moreover, psoriasiform lesions developed after this therapy. Further studies are needed to identify the effects of infliximab in patients with vitiligo.

Photosensitive psoriasis in a vitiligo patient

We report a case of a 15-year-old Caucasian female, previously affected by non-segmental vitiligo and psoriasis vulgaris, who developed a psoriatic eruption on sun-exposed skin during the summer. Oral therapy with cyclosporine A achieved a rapid improvement of the clinical picture. The main features of photosensitive psoriasis and the association between psoriasis and vitiligo are discussed herein.

Prevalência de psoríase em estudo de 261 pacientes com vitiligo

FUNDAMENTOS: O estudo da associação de psoríase e vitiligo é necessário em razão das prováveis origens imunológicas dessas enfermidades e da proximidade de loci encontrados no cromossomo 1p31. OBJETIVO: O propósito principal foi determinar a prevalência de psoríase em pacientes com vitiligo em amostra de 740 pacientes submetidos à fototerapia em Curitiba, PR e descrever suas características clínicas. MÉTODOS: Dos 740, foram estudados retrospectivamente 261 pacientes com diagnóstico de vitiligo, e analisados aqueles com associação de vitiligo e psoríase no período entre 2000 e 2004. RESULTADOS: A prevalência dessa associação neste trabalho foi de 3,06%; semelhante à de outras pesquisas anteriores. Foram identificados dois casos dos quais não se encontrou relato em revisão da literatura: a) a associação de vitiligo, psoríase e halo nevo; b) a associação de vitiligo segmentar e psoríase. CONCLUSÕES: A associação de vitiligo e psoríase tem sido raramente relatada, sendo ainda necessários estudos sobre a fisiopatologia e a genética dessa associação.

An update and guidance on narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy: a British Photodermatology Group Workshop Report

Summary These guidelines for use of narrowband (TL-01) ultraviolet B have been prepared for dermatologists by the British Photodermatology Group on behalf of the British Association of Dermatologists. They present evidence-based guidance for treatment of patients with a variety of dermatoses and photodermatoses, with identification of the strength of evidence available at the time of preparation of the guidelines, and a brief overview of background photobiology.