Autologous cultured melanocytes in vitiligo treatment.
BACKGROUND
Surgical treatment of vitiligo is indicated when lesions are localized in poorly responding areas.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives were: (1) to establish the melanocyte culture obtained from the epidermis of vitiligo patients for future treatment; (2) to estimate the influence of selected factors on the formation of suction blisters and the results of culture; and (3) to compare the results of treatment of vitiliginous macules localized in the dorsum of the hands and lower limbs by transplantation of cultured autologous melanocytes plus psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy (CMP), suction blister transplantation plus PUVA therapy (SBP), cryotherapy plus PUVA-therapy (CP), and only PUVA therapy (OP).


METHODS
Forty patients were qualified for the study. The roofs of the suction blisters were used as a melanocyte source for culture establishment or were directly transplanted.


RESULTS
The CMP procedure was successfully performed on only 10 of 20 patients because of the difficulties in cell culture establishment. The SBP method was carried out on all 20 patients. A total lack of effectiveness was found in CP and OP methods.


CONCLUSIONS
The effectiveness of culture depends on time of suction blister forming, phototype, and previous PUVA therapy. This study demonstrated the advantage of the SBP over the CMP method.
Czajkowski
Rafal
R
Department of Dermatology and Department of Tissue Engineering, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Ludwik Rydygier Medical College, Bydgoszcz, Poland. czajkowski@poczta.pf.pl
Placek
Waldemar
W
Drewa
Tomasz
T
Kowaliszyn
Bogna
B
Sir
Jan
J
Weiss
Wioletta
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*