Clinical efficacy and safety profile of handheld narrow band ultraviolet B device therapy in vitiligo – Systematic review and meta-analysis

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dc.contributor.authorKhandpur, Sen_US
dc.contributor.authorSingh, Sen_US
dc.contributor.authorPaul, D.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-13T11:21:47Z
dc.date.available2025-08-13T11:21:47Z
dc.date.issued2025-06
dc.description.abstractBackground: Handheld narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) device is a portable, home-based, patient-friendly equipment used in vitiligo. It is a newer promising treatment that lacks generalised consensus due to heterogenicity among studies. Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy and safety profile of handheld NB-UVB devices in the treatment of vitiligo. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines and using appropriate keywords, the Embase, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched on 28 November 2023. Data on the proportion of patients with a percentage of re-pigmentation and toxicity were extracted from the included studies. Random effects and fixed model were utilised to generate pooled estimates via meta-analysis. Results: Out of 250 articles, 13 studies (557 patients) were included. The extent of repigmentation achieved over a median duration of 6 months (range 3-12 months) was quantified to be > 25%, > 50%, and >75 % in 63.6% (95% CI: 51.0–75.3%), 40.8% (95% CI: 30.4–51.6%) and 15.4% (95% CI: 7.6–25.3%) of patients respectively. After 12 weeks of treatment, the proportions of patients achieving > 25%, > 50%, and >75% re-pigmentation were 31.1% (95% CI: 9.6–58.3%), 12.9% (95% CI: 3.1–28.1%) and 6.5% (95% CI: 1.7–14.1%), respectively. Similarly, at 24 weeks, these proportions were 53.2% (95% CI: 24.5–80.7%), 36.7% (95% CI: 15.8–60.5%), and 11.1% (95% CI: 2.9–23.7%). Minimal erythema dose (MED) calculation-based therapy was not significantly better than therapy given without MED calculation (p = 0.43). The studies with only stable vitiligo patients did not achieve significantly greater > 25% (p = 0.06), > 50% (p = 0.80), and > 75% (p = 0.25) re-pigmentation compared to the studies that also included active or slowly progressive vitiligo. Three sessions per week resulted in significantly higher > 50% (p < 0.01) and > 75% (p = 0.01) re-pigmentation. Totally, 11.3% (38/334) of patients showed no response to therapy. The most commonly reported adverse event was erythema in 33.4% (95% CI: 19.3– 49.2%) of patients, with grade 3 and 4 erythema in 27 and 15 patients, respectively. Other adverse events included pruritus, burning, hyperpigmentation, dryness, and blister formation observed in 22.1%, 16.4%, 19.1%, 9.8%, and 9.7% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Handheld NB-UVB portable home-based devices are an efficacious and safe treatment option in vitiligo patients even without MED calculation, when the treatment frequency is three to four sessions per week.en_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Dermatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Dermatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsDepartment of Dermatology & STD, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.citationKhandpur S, Singh S, Paul D.. Clinical efficacy and safety profile of handheld narrow band ultraviolet B device therapy in vitiligo – Systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2025 Jun; 91(3): 321-331en_US
dc.identifier.issn0378-6323
dc.identifier.issn0973-3922
dc.identifier.placeIndiaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/253759
dc.languageenen_US
dc.publisherScientific Scholar on behalf of Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists & Leprologists (IADVL), India.en_US
dc.relation.issuenumber3en_US
dc.relation.volume91en_US
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.25259/IJDVL_71_2024en_US
dc.subjectNarrow band ultraviolet Ben_US
dc.subjectNB-UVBen_US
dc.subjecthandhelden_US
dc.subjectvitiligoen_US
dc.titleClinical efficacy and safety profile of handheld narrow band ultraviolet B device therapy in vitiligo – Systematic review and meta-analysisen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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