A Noninvasive Technique, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, For The Clinical Efficacy In Treated Vitiligo Lesions

Objective①To evaluate the efficacy of0.1%tacrolimus ointment treatment of facial vitiligo by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).②To evaluate the efficacy of WeiALu treatment of facial vitiligo by CLSM.Subjects and Methods③Totally,35patients, who were diagnosed with facial vitiligo, were enrolled in this study. All the patients were applied to0.1%tacrolimus ointment twice a day. Patients were evaluated by CLSM and digital cameras at4-8weekly intervals until12months and recorded the results.20patients were selected by CLSM and digital cameras at1-2weekly intervals until16weeks randomlyand recorded the results.②A total of20patients with facial vitiligo were enrolled in this study. All the patients were treated by WeiALu twice a day. All the patients were evaluated by CLSM and digital cameras at1-2weekly intervals until16weeks and recorded the results.Results①In35patients,11patients were recovered,7patients were excellent,6patients were in effect,11patients were no response. The total efficiency was68.57%and the effective rate was51.43%. In35patients, some patients who had a large of repigmented area by photography evaluation, we can see numbers of dendrite melanocytes in stratum basele by CLSM. Some patients who had not any repigmentation by photography evaluation, we can not see dendrite melanocytes by CLSM. However, CLSM can find several dendritic melanocytes in stratum basele sometimes. In20patients, the time of appearing melanocytes was (4.29±2.84)weeks by CLSM evaluation,which was significantly earlier than the time of appearing repigmentation was (7.40±3.24) weeks by photography evaluation in the group of0.1%tacrolimus ointment (t=2.50, P<0.05). There were three patterns of melanocytes by CLSM:perilesional type, perifollicular type and diffuse type. We can see dendrite melanocytes moving from the adjacent normal-appearing area to the lesional area in perilesional type. There were several dendrite melanocytes surrounding the hair follicles in perilesional type. The diffuse type that was much dendrite melanocytes or repigmentation islands evenly distributed in the lesional area.②The time of appearing melanocytes was (4.53±2.47)weeks by CLSM evaluation,which was significantly earlier than the time of appearing repigmentation was (9.83±2.76) weeks by photography evaluation in the group of WeiALu (t=5.26, P<0.05).Conclusion CLSM is more effective in assessing the therapeutic effect of treating vitiligo and can enhance confidence for patients using medicine. CLSM is more suitable for scientific research. There were three patterns of melanocytes (perilesional type, perifollicular type and diffuse type) by CLSM in treated vitiligo lesions.