A comparative study of efficacy and safety of topical 10% phenylalanine gel versus 0.1% mometasone furoate cream in limited nonsegmental vitiligo

Abstract

Background: Among various therapeutic options for treating vitiligo, the search for an effective agent to minimize disease progression and achieve repigmentation continues. Topical phenylalanine 10% gel has shown promising results, and hence this study was carried out in patients with limited vitiligo. Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of topical 10% phenylalanine gel versus topical 0.1% mometasone furoate cream in patients with limited nonsegmental vitiligo. Materials and methods: This study included 74 participants diagnosed as limited nonsegmental vitiligo (≤5 skin lesions). Group A received topical 10% phenylalanine gel (twice daily application), whereas Group B received topical 0.1% mometasone furoate cream (once daily application) for a period of 16 weeks. Clinical improvement based on vitiligo area severity index (VASI) scoring was assessed at intervals of 4 weeks until the end of the study duration. Physician’s global improvement assessment was calculated at the end of the study based on VASI scores. Results: Group A participants showed improvement of 24% when compared with 30.7% in group B at end of 16 weeks. Reduction in VASI scores and clinically visible improvement were noted in both groups after 8 weeks. Adverse events were not noted in any of the groups. Lesions over hands and feet were 11.3 times less likely to show response to treatment when compared with other sites. Conclusion: Both phenylalanine and mometasone were able to achieve significant repigmentation in the participants without any adverse effects. Mometasone achieved marked to excellent response in a higher percentage of participants. The overall efficacy of topical mometasone cream was better than topical phenylalanine gel.