Ajay Chopra1, K Lekshmipriya2. 1. Senior Adviser & Head of Department (Dermatology), Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt, India. 2. Classified Specialist (Dermatology), Base Hospital Lucknow, India.
Abstract
Background: Vitiligo is a depigmenting skin disorder resulting from the loss of melanocytes in the epidermis. Surgical treatment is indicated in resistant stable vitiligo that does not show adequate response to medical therapy. This study aims at comparing the efficacy of repigmentation by split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) versus autologous non-cultured melanocyte transfer (AMT) in the management of stable vitiligo. Methods: A total of 22 patients were recruited, which included 100 stable vitiligo patches. Fifty patches were subjected to STSG, and the remaining 50 were subjected to AMT. The patients were followed up at monthly intervals for six months to assess the degree of repigmentation. Results: The results at the end of six months were as follows: 40% patches in group A and 42.5% in group B exhibited >75% repigmentation. The outcome was better over the limbs, acral parts and joints. The average donor-to-recipient area ratio for group A was 1:1, whereas that for group B was 1:3.2. Conclusion: Both STSG and AMT are effective surgical modalities in the management of stable vitiligo. However, AMT has cosmetically better good outcomes, requires a smaller size of the donor area and has minimal complications over both recipient and donor areas.
Background: Vitiligo is a depigmenting skin disorder resulting from the loss of melanocytes in the epidermis. Surgical treatment is indicated in resistant stable vitiligo that does not show adequate response to medical therapy. This study aims at comparing the efficacy of repigmentation by split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) versus autologous non-cultured melanocyte transfer (AMT) in the management of stable vitiligo. Methods: A total of 22 patients were recruited, which included 100 stable vitiligo patches. Fifty patches were subjected to STSG, and the remaining 50 were subjected to AMT. The patients were followed up at monthly intervals for six months to assess the degree of repigmentation. Results: The results at the end of six months were as follows: 40% patches in group A and 42.5% in group B exhibited >75% repigmentation. The outcome was better over the limbs, acral parts and joints. The average donor-to-recipient area ratio for group A was 1:1, whereas that for group B was 1:3.2. Conclusion: Both STSG and AMT are effective surgical modalities in the management of stable vitiligo. However, AMT has cosmetically better good outcomes, requires a smaller size of the donor area and has minimal complications over both recipient and donor areas.
Authors: Vishvabhavan Pandya; Kirti S Parmar; Bela J Shah; F E Bilimoria Journal: Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol Date: 2005 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 2.545