Topical mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of vitiligo: a pilot study

BACKGROUND Vitiligo is a multifactorial disease that is characterized by circumscribed depigmented macules and patches. Autoimmune reactions may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Mycophenolate mofetil is a drug that inhibits DNA synthesis in lymphocytes and has been used in autoimmune diseases such as immunobullous skin diseases, lupus erythematosus, and autoimmune hepatitis. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to show the efficacy of topical mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of vitiligo. METHODS Thirty patients with limited vitiligo were enrolled in this study. The patients applied a topical preparation of mycophenolate mofetil 15% twice daily for three months and at the end of every month, repigmentation was assessed using the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI). RESULTS At the end of the third month, 36.6 % (n=11) of the patients showed about 25% repigmentation of the lesions. No side effects were observed throughout the study. CONCLUSION This study showed that topical mycophenolate mofetil can be somewhat effective in the treatment of vitiligo; however, it seems to be inferior to potent topical steroids in inducing repigmentation.