Efficacy of topical latanoprost in the treatment of eyelid vitiligo: A randomized, double‐blind clinical trial study

Abstract

Numerous studies have demonstrated that the pigmentation of iris and around the eyelid is a common side effect of latanoprost, a prostaglandin F2alpha analogue used in the treatment of glaucoma. Hence, the authors decided to study the effectiveness of topical latanoprost on vitiligo patches around the eyelid. In this randomized, double-blind, clinical trial study, 31 patients with vitiligo vulgaris and focal vitiligo involving the eyelids were evaluated. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. First group received topical latanoprost gel twice daily for 12 weeks, whereas the second group received placebo with the same protocol. To evaluate severity of the disease the VIDA rating system was used. Serial photos of the patches were taken to compare and evaluate the repigmentation percentage of the patches. The patients in both groups had almost similar VIDA score (p > .05). First group showed improved pigmentation, whereas participants in the second group did not show any improvement in the pigmentation. The group treated with latanoprost showed significant reduction in the symptoms of the disease, whereas those treated with placebo did not show any alteration (p > .05). No significant complications were observed in either groups. Latanoprost proved effective in treating vitiligo disease involving eyelids.

A comparative study of combined microneedling and narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy versus their combination with topical latanoprost in the treatment of vitiligo

“…The efficacy of Latanoprost in inducing repigmentation of vitiligo lesions was previously investigated and reported to be due to increased melanin synthesis in response to direct melanocytes stimulation by elevated tyrosinase activity, rather than increasing the mitotic index of melanocytes 14,21 …”

“…It is a prostaglandin analogue, more specifically an analogue of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) that works by increasing the outflow of aqueous fluid from the eyes. However, it induces hyperpigmentation of the iris, eye lashes, and periocular skin 14 . In the last decade, topical latanoprost has been reported to be effective in repigmentation of vitiligo lesions, 14‐17 and its effect was additionally enhanced when combined with NB‐UVB phototherapy 8,9,17 …”

Ligand-induced activation and G protein coupling of prostaglandin F2α receptor

“…However, its clinical application was limited by intolerable side effects, possibly caused by its low selectivity for FP receptor 12 . Since then, selective FP agonists have attracted extensive attention and have been developed for the treatment of glaucoma 5 , scalp alopecia 13 , and vitiligo 14 . From 1996 to 2012, several FP-selective prostaglandin analogs (PGAs) were approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for glaucoma treatment.…”

Vitiligo: Translational research and effective therapeutic strategies

“…(Sharma et al., 2018) Latanoprost, another prostaglandin F2‐alpha analog, was found to effectively induce repigmentation of vitiligo lesions involving the eyelids in a randomized controlled trial of 31 patients. (Nowroozpoor Dailami et al., 2020) Topical JAK inhibitors, ruxolitinib 1.5% cream and tofacitinib 2% in combination with NB‐UVB showed promising results. (McKesey & Pandya, 2019; Rothstein et al., 2017) Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)‐related decapeptide has been shown to act as a mitogen in melanocyte cultures, thereby helping in repigmenting the depigmented skin.…”