1. INFLUENCE OF NARROW BAND ULTRA VIOLET B(NBUVB)
PHOTOTHERAPY ON SERUM VITAMIN-D AND FOLATE STATUS IN
PATIENTS WITH VITILIGO
Atyeh.Ebadi, MD, dermatologist, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.
Sajjad Nazari, MD, assistant professor of dermatology, Zahedan University of medical Sciences
Soheila Nasiri, Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
introduction: Some studies indicated that vitamin D and folate can be influenced by UV
radiation, in this experience we evaluated the impact of narrow band ultra violet B (NBUVB)
phototherapy on serum vitamin D level and folate status in patients with vitiligo .
Methods: Thirty patients with confirmed vitiligo vulgaris were recruited. To measure serum
vitamin D level and folate status, the blood samples were taken before and after 40 session of
NBUVB phototherapy. Besides, Clinical response to phototherapy was evaluated using VASI
score (Vitiligo Area Scoring Index).
Results: 30 patients including 13 female and 17 male mean age 35.17±8 were evaluated. The
median of accumulate dose of NBUVB was 41.1 mj/cm2. The mean of VASI after phototherapy
significantly decreased. The mean of folate level after treatment significantly increased
.However correlation between folate and improvement of vitiligo was not significant .
The median of 25(OH) D serum level before phototherapy was 20.35 ng/ml and after treatment
increased to 45.8ng/ml .
Moreover, the 25(OH) D serum level significantly increased and correlation between increasing
level of 25(OH) D and improvement of vitiligo was significant.
Conclusion: NB-UVB phototherapy gives a significant increase of the vitamin D, and folate
status in patients with Vitiligo; Moreover, it is safe and presents few side effects in patients.
Besides, it decreases the VASI score.
Limitations: Further studies are needed to asses if the effectiveness of NBUVB phototherapy
for Vitiligo is due or related to vitamin D synthesis.
The authors have declared no conflict of interest.
Contact:Aty_ebadi@yahoo.com