A retrospective study of long term follow-up of 2283 vitiligo patients treated by autologous, non-cultured melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation.

BACKGROUND

Autologous non-cultured melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation (MKTP) can be used to treat stable vitiligo cases, but there were insufficient clinical data to evaluate its safety and efficacy.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the influence of various factors on the therapeutic outcome of MKTP.

METHOD

The single-center retrospective study included stable vitiligo patients who underwent MKTP between June 2009 and June 2018. Univariate and/or multivariable analysis were used to determine the factors affecting the outcome of repigmentation.

RESULT

The study comprised 2283 patients who had long-term follow-up data (12-108months). Excellent repigmentation was achieved in 400/606 (66%),788/1341 (58.8%),437/684 (63.9%),18/24 (75%) patients with segmental vitiligo, pre-MKTP phototherapy, younger than 24 years, the lesion on the perineum and scrotum, respectively. However, the patients with a positive family history, Koebner phenomenon responded worse(χ=29.417, P<0.001; χ=107.397, P<0.001; respectively). Overall, a significant positive correlation between duration of stability and percentage of repigmentation was found (χ=42.053, P<0. 001).

CONCLUSION

MKTP is efficient and well tolerated for stable vitiligo treatment. Various factors such as duration of disease stability, vitiligo type, family history, site of lesion should be carefully assessed before using MKTP, as it would further improve the post-operative repigmentation.