Background: Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by the loss of melanocyte cells, leading to depigmentation. Treatment options for Vitiligo encompass topical agents, systemic treatments, phototherapy, and surgical interventions. Some therapeutic approaches target the oxidative toxicity pathway, with pseudo-catalase enzyme treatment showing promise in this context.
Aim of the Study: This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of a specially formulated reducing gel containing pseudo-catalase enzyme in conjunction with narrowband UVB therapy for stable non-segmental vitiligo.
Patients and Methods: In this double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, 30 vitiligo patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the test gel group or the placebo gel group. Participants applied the assigned gel pre- and post-NBUVB treatment twice weekly for 24 weeks. Baseline and monthly assessments of Vitiligo Area Scoring Index [VASI] and photographic evaluations were conducted.
Results: The VASI scores of the test group exhibited a significant improvement [P value=0.0001] compared to the placebo group [P value=0.18] following treatment. Furthermore, post-treatment VASI scores were significantly lower in the test group compared to the placebo group.
Conclusion: The combination of pseudo-catalase reducing gel with NB-UVB therapy yields superior therapeutic benefits for stable non-segmental vitiligo in terms of repigmentation compared to NB-UVB therapy or placebo alone. These agents may enhance endogenous catalase activity through exogenous redox regulation, suggesting the need for further investigation.