Dermoscopic and Clinical Response Predictor Factors in Nonsegmental Vitiligo Treated with Narrowband Ultraviolet B Phototherapy: A Prospective Observational Study

INTRODUCTION: Few data on possible local factors that can influence the achievement of response in nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV) treated with narrowband ultraviolet B (Nb-UVB) phototherapy are available. Our objective is to evaluate possible correlations between therapeutic outcomes and dermoscopic and local (lesional) clinical findings of vitiligous lesions undergoing Nb-UVB phototherapy to find positive and/or negative response predictor factors to such treatment. METHODS: For each target patch, we calculated the extension area using a computer-aided method and assessed dermoscopic and local (lesional) clinical findings at baseline. After 30 phototherapy sessions (twice weekly), surface area of the lesions was reevaluated to assess clinical improvement, correlating the therapeutic outcome with initial clinical and dermoscopic features. RESULTS: A total of 70 lesions were finally included in the study. At the end of therapy, 18 patches (25.7%) achieved improvement, and the presence of perifollicular pigmentation on baseline dermoscopic examination was found to be associated with a 12-fold higher probability of having a positive therapeutic outcome. Similarly, face localization was also correlated with clinical amelioration, with a sevenfold higher probability for improvement. No association (p > 0.05) between therapeutic outcomes (either good or poor) and other dermoscopic or local clinical variables (including leukotrichia) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic response of vitiligo to Nb-UVB phototherapy may be positively affected by local features of the lesions, i.e., face localization and presence of perifollicular pigmentation on baseline dermoscopic examination, which might be considered as positive response predictor factors to optimize treatment of vitiligo.