NCT06900777

Oral Tacrolimus vs Dexamethasone Micro-pulse Therapy in Pediatric Rapidly Progressing Vitiligo: A Multicenter RCT

Oral Tacrolimus Capsule Versus Dexamethasone Micro-pulse Therapy for the Treatment of Rapidly Progressing Vitiligo in Children: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Study

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Xijing Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 12 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This clinical study aims to compare the safety and effectiveness of two treatments-oral Tacrolimus capsules and Dexamethasone micro-pulse therapy-in children aged 4-12 years with rapidly progressing vitiligo. The study is a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial involving 90 participants, who will be divided equally into two groups. One group will receive daily Tacrolimus, while the other will take Dexamethasone on weekends. Over 24 weeks, doctors will monitor improvements in skin repigmentation, side effects, and overall health through regular check-ups and blood tests. The goal is to determine which treatment better controls disease progression and improves quality of life for children with vitiligo. Key Points: * For children with rapidly spreading vitiligo. * Compares two common medications. * Follows participants for 6 months. * Focuses on safety and effectiveness.

Detailed description

Background: Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin condition causing pigment loss, significantly impacting children's well-being. Current treatments like systemic corticosteroids (e.g., Dexamethasone) carry risks of long-term side effects. Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant with a safer profile in other pediatric conditions, shows promise but lacks evidence for oral use in vitiligo. This trial addresses this gap by comparing Tacrolimus and Dexamethasone. Study Design: * Multicenter, randomized, controlled trial across 5 hospitals in China. * 90 participants (4-12 years) with rapidly progressing non-segmental vitiligo (VIDA score 4). * Interventions: * Tacrolimus group: 0.1±0.05 mg/kg/day, divided into two doses. * Dexamethasone group: 0.05±0.025 mg/kg/weekend pulse dosing. * Duration: 24 weeks with follow-ups at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 weeks. Outcome Measures: * Primary: Proportion achieving ≥50% improvement in Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI 50) at 24 weeks. * Secondary: VASI 75/90 response rates, Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scores, and safety parameters (blood tests, metabolic panels, adverse events). Statistical Analysis: Data will be analyzed using chi-square tests to compare efficacy and safety between groups (significance: p ≤ 0.05). All analyses adhere to intention-to-treat principles. Ethics \& Compliance: Approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University. Informed consent is obtained from all participants' guardians.

Conditions

• Vitiligo
• Child
• Progressive Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Tacrolimus	Participants receive oral tacrolimus capsules at a dosage of 0.1 ± 0.05 mg/kg per day, divided into two administrations. The treatment duration is 24 weeks. Blood drug concentration is monitored to maintain trough levels between 7-15 ng/mL. Safety assessments include regular blood tests (hematology, liver/kidney function, blood glucose) and adverse event tracking.
DRUG	Dexamethasone	Participants receive oral dexamethasone tablets at a dosage of 0.05 ± 0.025 mg/kg per day, administered as a single dose on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). The treatment duration is 24 weeks. Safety evaluations include monitoring of blood parameters (hematology, liver/kidney function, blood glucose), weight, and adrenal function (cortisol, ACTH levels).

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-04-01
• Primary completion: 2026-04-01
• Completion: 2026-04-01
• First posted: 2025-03-28
• Last updated: 2025-06-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China