title: Four compartment method: a simplified and cost-effective method of noncultured epidermal cell suspension for the treatment of vitiligo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite continued progress towards an elucidation of pathogenetic pathways in vitiligo, a definitive cure remains elusive. Noncultured epidermal cell suspension (NCECS) is emerging as the treatment of choice for surgical management of both stable and segmental vitiligo. NCECS is very effective in repigmenting stable vitiligo, but the technique requires an expert and the support of a laboratory facility.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate a simplified and more cost-effective method for NCECS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We simplified the conventional NCECS method and made it more cost-effective and simple enough to be performed in the clinic without laboratory equipment. We named this the four compartment (FC) method. Six patients with vitiligo were treated with this FC method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FC method for NCECS is highly cost-effective and simple. Six patients with vitiligo were treated and the results showed marked to complete repigmentation in four patients and > 50% repigmentation in two patients in 3 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FC method is a cost-effective and simple procedure to prepare epidermal cell suspensions. In this modified method we showed that there is no need for pipette, tips, centrifuge tube and most importantly a centrifuge machine or any other expensive laboratory equipment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parsad
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yadav
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*