This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of combining the 308-nm Excimer lamp with Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment, compared to Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment monotherapy, for treating pediatric vitiligo involving less than 10% of the body surface area. Fifty pediatric patients with vitiligo were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A received Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment twice daily and Excimer light at 308-nm twice weekly, while Group B received Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment alone, administered twice daily. Repigmentation percentages were evaluated after 30, 90, and 180 days using the rule of nine. Group A exhibited a significant improvement in repigmentation, increasing from 10% after one month to 65% after six months. In contrast, Group B observed an increase from 10% to 30% over the same timeframe. The efficacy of the treatment was significantly higher in Group A at both the 3-month and 6-month follow-up points (p-value < .001). Moreover, Group A achieved notably higher repigmentation rates in the face, trunk, and lower limbs. The combination of Tacrolimus and the 308-nm excimer lamp yielded superior repigmentation results compared to Tacrolimus monotherapy in pediatric vitiligo patients. This combined approach may offer an effective new treatment protocol for pediatric vitiligo.
17 September 2024 in American Journal of Ophthalmology
Purpose: Vitiligo is an idiopathic depigmenting skin disorder. The study compares the efficacy of topical tacrolimus 0.1% with calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate in vitiligo patients receiving NB-UVB treatment.Materials and methods: Forty-one adult patients with generalized type vitiligo were recruited. Patients were assigned to phototherapy and then classified into either group one (20 patients), receiving calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate cream (D group), or group two (21 patients), receiving tacrolimus 0.1% ointment (T group). They were followed-up at 3 and 6 months.Results: The D group witnessed an increase in the repigmentation area from 35.4% in the third month to 54.7% in the sixth month (p = 0.001) and the T group from 32.2% to 45.6% (p = 0.011). However, the differences between the treatment groups were not statistically significant. Body sites demonstrated different levels of improvement ranging from the highest in the face to the lowest in the Hand & Feet with the other body sites in between. A negative correlation was identified between the duration since diagnosis and the response to D treatment (3 months: r = -0.612, p = 0.007; 6 months: r = -0.755, p = 0.001).Conclusions: Although both combinations are efficacious, they did not significantly differ in efficacy at three and six months follow-up points.Clinical trial registration: The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04440371).
Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a severe and rare soft tissue infection with a high potential for mortality, particularly in cases related to odontogenic infections in immunocompromised patients. The conventional treatment for NF includes broad-spectrum antibiotics and aggressive surgical debridement. This report presents a unique case of a 34-year-old healthy male who developed NF following a lower left wisdom tooth extraction. The infection extended into the superior mediastinum, requiring emergency surgical intervention. The therapeutic management included vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), a treatment modality showing promise in managing complex soft tissue infections, in combination with other adjunct treatments. The patient showed a satisfactory healing process and no signs of recurrence during the six-month follow-up period. This case underlines the importance of early diagnosis and the potential benefit of VAC therapy in managing advanced NF, emphasizing the need for further research and clinical application.
This report elucidates a unique case of a 39-year-old female with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who developed a rare and severe complication: diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Despite initial treatments for ITP, the patient experienced fluctuating platelet (PLT) counts and shortness of breath, which were later identified as symptoms of DAH. An urgent splenectomy improved the patient's platelet counts and overall condition. This case underscores the imperative to recognize DAH as a possible ITP complication, requiring clinicians' vigilance for prompt diagnosis and intervention. The intricate nature of ITP in adults necessitates individualized, patient-centered treatment approaches to enhance outcomes. This report provides invaluable insights into the clinical understanding and management of ITP and its complications through detailed analysis and documentation of the patient's treatment journey.