The efficacy of narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy combination with tofacitinib in the treatment of vitiligo: a randomized controlled trial

This randomized control clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tofacitinib combined with phototherapy narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) in the treatment of vitiligo. A total of 136 vitiligo patients were randomized to UVB treatment (UVB group) or UVB treatment combined with tofacitinib (TOF-UVB group). The patients were followed up for 24 weeks. In post-treatment analysis of treatment outcomes, the vitiligo area severity index (VASI) and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were measured. Serum levels of inflammatory factors including IL-17, IL-23, IFN-γ and IL-6, were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In post-treatment analysis, significantly more patients in the TOF-UVB group (<i>n</i> = 63) showed effective recovery compared to the UVB group (<i>n</i> = 61). TOF-UVB group also demonstrated markedly lower VASI and DLQI scores than the UVB group. Pronouncedly lower levels of inflammatory factors were also observed. Our data suggest that UVB-TOF is potentially more effective than UVB alone in promoting recovery of vitiligo patients and reducing inflammatory factors.