Stable vitiligo treated by a combination of low-dose oral pulse betamethasone and autologous, noncultured melanocyte-keratinocyte cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND

Various surgical procedures are in use to treat stable vitiligo. The possibility of Koebner phenomenon always exists with surgical treatment. Partial or complete failure to repigment is observed in spite of clinical stability.

AIM

To evaluate the usefulness of a combination treatment of low-dose oral betamethasone and melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation.

METHODS

Oral betamethasone was given to patients who failed to respond either completely or partially to melanocyte-keratinocyte cell transplantation, and the procedure was repeated for previously treated and nontreated area. A simpler and modified method described by Mulekar was performed.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients with vitiligo vulgaris and eight patients with segmental vitiligo were retransplanted after giving oral betamethasone for 2 to 10 months after the initial procedure. Two patients of vitiligo vulgaris and one of segmental vitiligo failed to respond completely even after repeat transplantation. Fifteen vulgaris and seven segmental patients showed excellent to good repigmentation after repeat transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Combined treatment of oral betamethasone and melanocyte cell transplantation has a potential to produce complete repigmentation in patients with large vitiliginous areas.