Comparative Study of Topical Pentoxifylline Versus Topical 5-Fluorouracil Combined With Microneedling and NB-UVB for Stable Vitiligo
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Tanta University
- Where
- Egypt1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
- Trial code
- Status
- Completed
- People taking part
- 42 people enrolled
- Started
- 1 Jan 2023
- Ended
- 30 Jun 2025
- Type of study
- Interventional, 3 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Microneedling + topical treatment (PTX 20 mg/ml) followed by NB phototherapy
- Microneedling + topical treatment (5-FU 5%) followed by NB phototherapy
- Microneedling alone followed by NB phototherapy
- Record updated
- 20 August 2026
Who can take part
- Age
- 6 years to 55 years
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 2 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Patients with stable vitiligo. No new or progressive vitiligo lesions for at least 1 year. No vitiligo treatment for at least 3 months. Age 6-55 years based on the enrolled study population
Who cannot take part
- History of keloidal tendency. Bleeding tendency. Current anticoagulant therapy. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Presence of other systemic or dermatological diseases. Contraindications to phototherapy. Photosensitive disorders, including lupus erythematosus or xeroderma pigmentosum; Personal or family history of skin cancer
This trial has no sites in United States.
It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
This randomized, single-blinded clinical trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of topical pentoxifylline compared with topical 5-fluorouracil, both combined with microneedling and narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy, in patients with stable vitiligo. A total of 42 patients with stable vitiligo received six biweekly microneedling sessions over three months, with concomitant NB-UVB phototherapy twice weekly, followed by a three-month follow-up period. Each patient had three vitiliginous patches allocated to topical pentoxifylline with microneedling, topical 5-fluorouracil with microneedling, or microneedling alone.
The 3 groups in the trial
- Microneedling + topical treatment (PTX 20 mg/ml)Existing treatment, for comparison
Microneedling + topical treatment (PTX 20 mg/ml) followed by phototherapy
Treatment: Microneedling + topical treatment (PTX 20 mg/ml) followed by NB phototherapy
- Microneedling + topical treatment (5-FU 5%)Existing treatment, for comparison
Microneedling + topical treatment (5-FU 5%)+phototherapy
Treatment: Microneedling + topical treatment (5-FU 5%) followed by NB phototherapy
- Microneedling alonePlacebo, for comparison
Microneedling alone+phototherapy
Treatment: Microneedling alone followed by NB phototherapy
Data and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Comparative Study of Topical Pentoxiphylline Versus Topical 5- Fluorouracil Both in Combination With Narrow- Band Ultraviolet B Phototherapy and Microneedling for the Treatment of Vitiligo
- Record updated
- 20 August 2026