Microneedling and 5-Fluorouracil in Treating Stable Vitiligo in Hitherto Unstudied High Prevalence Population

Vitiligo, affecting 0.25% in India (>1% in Jharkhand), stigmatises and devastates self-esteem/relationships causing depression. Apart from medical treatment, surgical procedures like applying 5-fluorouracil after microneedling are to be confirmed in unstudied populations and across time periods. An interventional study was conducted among out-patients of a tertiary hospital in a high-prevalence population wherein earlier attempts were not conducted.

To assess the effect of microneedling and applying 5% 5-fluorouracil on stable vitiligo patches.

Microneedling and topical application of 5-fluorouracil was planned on 30 subjects of 10-50 age-groups with stable vitiligo, from September 2019 to September 2021 every 15 days for 12 visits. Age, gender, site, size/stability of vitiligo patches, leukotrichia and vitiligo family history were studied. Repigmentation (overall and variable-wise) was measured at each visit using 76-100% (excellent), 51-75% (very good), 25 to 50% (good) and <25% (poor). Data was analysed with the Chi-square test or Standard Error of Difference between two proportions.

Under COVID restrictions (2020-2021), sample coverage was 77% (23/30) comprising 13 females and 10 males. Visits varied for each subject totalling 185 visits out of an expected 276 (67%). Significantly, 3 (13%) achieved excellent repigmentation, 10 (43%) very good, 8 (35%) good and only 2 (9%) poor repigmentation. Cumulatively, 13 (56%) attained excellent/very good repigmentation and 21 (91%) had excellent/very good/good repigmentation. Repigmentation ranged from 10% to 100% among 23 subjects, averaging 54% in average 8 visits (4 months). Repigmentation was equally achieved irrespective of age, gender, site, size and stability of the vitiliginous patch, presence/absence of leukotrichia and family history of vitiligo. Manageable pain (100%), itching (4%) and hyperpigmentation 43%, were side effects.

Cumulative 91% (excellent/very good/good) repigmentation despite COVID-19 in the study period, and its comparability with other studies, strengthens evidence that microneedling and 5% 5-fluorouracil is effective in treating stable vitiligo in a high prevalence population.