Kiren Shaheryar, Muneeza Rizwan, Sakina Sadiq.
To determine the mean change in serum vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients undergoing NBUVB phototherapy.
J Pak Assoc Derma Jan ;29(1):67-71.

Background Vitiligo is a common, acquired, often heritable, multifactorial pigmentary disorder with a complex pathogenesis. Vitamin D is a fat soluble essential hormone synthesized in the skin on exposure to ultraviolet B present in the sunlight. It plays its role in calcium homeostasis as well as in immunoregulation. Low levels of vitamin D have been observed in vitiligo patients, who seem to improve with NBUVB treatment.   Objective To determine the mean change in serum vitamin D levels in patients of vitiligo after narrow band ultraviolet B therapy.   Study design Quasi experimental.   Settings Dermatology Department, Pakistan Air Force Hospital, E9, Islamabad.   Duration of study Study was carried out over a period of six months from 10-05-2017 to 09-11-2017.   Subjects and Methods A total of 30 patients were included in this study. Serum vitamin D level was analyzed at baseline in all the patients who planned to undergo Narrow Band Ultraviolet B phototherapy for vitiligo. The phototherapy was given for 8 weeks and vitamin D levels were measured again.   Results Mean age of the patients was 32.77±10.68 years. There were 18 males (60%) and 12 females (40%). Pre-treatment serum vitamin D levels were 25.97±16.10 nmol/l while post-treatment serum vitamin D levels were 39.07±15.67 nmol/l (p<0.001).   Conclusion In conclusion, low vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients were improved after narrow band ultraviolet B phototherapy, which may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy.  

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