Successful treatment of vitiligo with PUVA-pigmented autologous epidermal grafting.
BACKGROUND
The methoxypsoralen-ultraviolet A-light (PUVA)-induced pigmented epidermal grafting procedure appears to be a more effective treatment for vitiligo than similar treatments presently available. This finding was based on: 1) a more vigorous and completely homogeneous repigmentation was observed in the vitiliginous area and 2) that the treatment was safe, easy, inexpensive, and not time-consuming (approximately 3-4 hours), thus making it a suitable outpatient clinic treatment procedure for vitiligo patients.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with amelanotic depigmented lesions that had been refractory to conventional therapy were treated using suction blisters from autologous epidermal sheets. These had 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) solution applied and had been exposed to ultraviolet A light (topical PUVA) in order to stimulate melanogenesis.


RESULTS
Successful repigmentation was obtained after transplantation in all patients with segmental and localized vitiligo. The most homogeneous repigmentation was obtained within 3 months after grafting.


CONCLUSIONS
This novel procedure is an excellent tool by which to treat segmental and localized vitiligo lesions that have failed to respond to other therapies.
Suga
Y
Y
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.
Butt
K I
KI
Takimoto
R
R
Fujioka
N
N
Yamada
H
H
Ogawa
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*