title: Melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation procedure in the treatment of vitiligo: the experience of an academic medical center in the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitiligo is a disfiguring disease with limited treatment options. Surgical treatment is underused in the United States because of perceived risk of infection, costs, and difficulty of the procedure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the efficacy and safety of the melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation procedure (MKTP) in an academic dermatology department in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, uncontrolled, open-label study enrolled patients aged 18 years or older with a self-reported history of vitiligo and no new or expanding lesions for at least 6 months before surgery. Patients with a history of koebnerization or keloid formation were excluded. Patients underwent autologous MKTP. Repigmentation during a 3- to 6-month follow-up period was assessed categorically and by modified Vitiligo Area Scoring Index. Safety was assessed by frequency of adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 28 patients who underwent 36 procedures, 23 patients who underwent 29 procedures completed the 3- to 6-month follow-up period. Data for these 29 procedures show excellent repigmentation (ie, 95%-100%) after the MKTP in 17%, and good repigmentation (ie, 65%-94%) in 31%. Fair (64%-25%) and poor (24%-0%) repigmentation were achieved in 10% and 41% of patients, respectively. Average percent change in Vitiligo Area Scoring Index was -45% (95% confidence interval -64% to -26%), signifying an improvement in pigmentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limitations include small sample size and lack of a control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MKTP is an effective and well-tolerated procedure based upon categorical and Vitiligo Area Scoring Index assessments of repigmentation.
authors.affiliation: Multicultural Dermatology Center, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Huggins
authors.forename: Marsha D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Sanjeev V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Mulekar
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ozog
authors.forename: Holly A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jabobsen
authors.forename: Henry W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Iltefat H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Hamzavi
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult