Chinese Medical Journal 2004;117(2):199-201

Topical melagenine for repigmentation in twenty-two child patients with vitiligo on the scalp.

Ai-e XU 1 ; Xiao-dong WEI

Affiliations

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Country

China

Language

English

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical melagenine for repigmentation in child patients with vitiligo on the scalp.

METHODSTwenty-two child patients with vitiligo on the scalp were treated with 1.2 mg/ml aqueous melagenine in combination with 20 minutes of infrared exposure twice daily.

RESULTSIn 4 patients (18.2%), melagenine treatment in combination with infrared exposure led to complete recovery; in 6 patients (27.3%), treatment was shown to be effective; in 8 patients (36.3%), treatment led to improvements in patient condition; and only 4 patients (18.2%) showed no response after 1 - 2 treatment sessions. The general effective rate of melagenine-infrared combination treatment was 45.5% for the children with vitiligo on the scalp, and treatment was accompanied by minimal side effects.

CONCLUSIONMelagenine may be efficacious and a safe treatment option for childhood vitiligo affecting the scalp.