title: Successful treatment of vitiligo with PUVA-pigmented autologous epidermal grafting.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takimoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: 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*