Successful treatment of vitiligo with PUVA-pigmented autologous epidermal grafting.

BACKGROUND

The methoxypsoralen-ultraviolet A-light (PUVA)-induced pigmented epidermal grafting procedure appears to be a more effective treatment for vitiligo than similar treatments presently available. This finding was based on: 1) a more vigorous and completely homogeneous repigmentation was observed in the vitiliginous area and 2) that the treatment was safe, easy, inexpensive, and not time-consuming (approximately 3-4 hours), thus making it a suitable outpatient clinic treatment procedure for vitiligo patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with amelanotic depigmented lesions that had been refractory to conventional therapy were treated using suction blisters from autologous epidermal sheets. These had 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) solution applied and had been exposed to ultraviolet A light (topical PUVA) in order to stimulate melanogenesis.

RESULTS

Successful repigmentation was obtained after transplantation in all patients with segmental and localized vitiligo. The most homogeneous repigmentation was obtained within 3 months after grafting.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel procedure is an excellent tool by which to treat segmental and localized vitiligo lesions that have failed to respond to other therapies.