title: A Study of Hair Follicular Transplantation as a Treatment Option for Vitiligo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Repigmentation of vitiligo is closely related to hair follicles. Hence, replenishing melanocytes in vitiliginous patches utilizing undifferentiated stem cells of the hair follicles using follicular unit transplantation (FUT) is a possible treatment option.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the efficacy of FUT in cases of segmental/stabilized vitiligo as a treatment option for leukotrichia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with 63 lesions of stable vitiligo over nonglabrous areas were treated with follicular unit grafts. Reduction in the size of vitiligo patches as well as improvement in the associated leukotrichia were evaluated using subjective and objective assessments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 63 patches, good to excellent response was seen in 39 (61.9%), fair in 16 (25.4%), and poor in eight (12.7%) lesions. No repigmentation was seen in two (4.8%) lesions. The mean improvement seen was 61.17%. Excellent color match was observed in 44 lesions (69.8%). Repigmentation of the depigmented hairs occurred in 11 out of 46 patients with associated leukotrichia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FUT is a safe and effective method for treating localized and segmental vitiligo, especially on hairy parts of the skin. Though labor intensive, it was found to be associated with a quick patient recovery time, very low morbidity, and good color match.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Parul
authors: P
authors: Thakur
authors: Department of Dermatology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sacchidanand
authors: Department of Dermatology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: H V
authors: HV
authors: Nataraj
authors: Department of Dermatology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Savitha
keywords: Hair follicle; leukotrichia; surgery; transplantation; vitiligo