An interventional study of Plasma Exeresis and Narrowband Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) Phototherapy in Vitiligo, sponsored by University of Faisalabad. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 8 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-03.
Sponsored by University of Faisalabad · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this quasi-experimental clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of plasma exeresis combined with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy versus NB-UVB monotherapy in patients with stable non-segmental vitiligo aged 8 to 65 years.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Researchers will compare plasma exeresis plus NB-UVB with NB-UVB alone to determine whether the combination treatment improves repigmentation.
Participants will:
Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder characterized by the loss of functional melanocytes and has a substantial psychosocial impact. Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is an established treatment for stable non-segmental vitiligo; however, repigmentation is often gradual and incomplete.
This quasi-experimental study will evaluate whether the addition of plasma exeresis enhances the therapeutic efficacy of NB-UVB phototherapy. Seventy patients with stable non-segmental vitiligo will be allocated into two treatment groups. Group A will receive plasma exeresis once monthly in combination with NB-UVB phototherapy twice weekly, while Group B will receive NB-UVB phototherapy alone twice weekly. Participants will be followed for 24 weeks with clinical assessments every four weeks.
The primary outcome is the change in Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) from baseline to week 24. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the comparative effectiveness of combination therapy versus NB-UVB monotherapy in the management of stable vitiligo.
343 studies on the registry are indexed under Vitiligo; 96 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 70 is above the median of 36 across 265 interventional studies indexed under Vitiligo.
Browse Vitiligo studies →University of Faisalabad is the lead sponsor of 86 studies on the registry; 27 are open to participants now.
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Participants in this arm receive plasma exeresis once monthly combined with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy twice weekly for 24 weeks. Participants are assessed every 4 weeks, and treatment response is evaluated using the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI).
Procedure: Plasma Exeresis · Radiation: Narrowband Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) Phototherapy
Participants in this arm receive narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy twice weekly for 24 weeks. Participants are assessed every 4 weeks, and treatment response is evaluated using the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI).
Radiation: Narrowband Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) Phototherapy
Plasma exeresis is performed once monthly using a handheld device. The procedure involves controlled treatment of depigmented vitiligo lesions with localized thermal injury to stimulate repigmentation.
Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is administered twice weekly for 24 weeks for the treatment of stable non-segmental vitiligo.
Change in Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) from Baseline to Week 24
Treatment efficacy will be assessed by measuring the change in the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) from baseline to Week 24. The VASI is a validated clinical scoring system used to assess the extent of vitiligo and the degree of depigmentation. The score is based on the percentage of body surface area affected by vitiligo and the degree of depigmentation within the affected areas. Higher VASI scores indicate greater disease severity, whereas lower scores indicate less extensive vitiligo and improvement. The VASI score has a theoretical minimum of 0, indicating no vitiligo, and a maximum of 100, representing complete depigmentation of the entire body surface area. A reduction in VASI score from baseline to Week 24 indicates improvement in vitiligo severity. A reduction of 50% or more from baseline will be considered a clinically significant improvement.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 24
Started Jan 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Nov 2026, 22 months after the start.
Of 63 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Vitiligo, half reached primary completion within 19 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 33. This study's planned 22 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 67 studies reached it within 17 months; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 32.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Faisalabad