Autologous cultured melanocyte transplantation for the treatment of genital vitiligo

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of autologous cultured melanocyte transplantation in the treatment of genital vitiligo. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out. From 2013 to 2016, 6 patients with genital vitiligo were enrolled from Department of Dermatology, Hangzhou Third People’s Hospital, who received the treatment with autologous cultured melanocyte transplantation. These patients aged 13-29 years, and the age of onset and disease duration ranged from 10 to 19 years and 2 to 10 years respectively. The area of white patches at the genital site ranged from 10 to 25 cm2. Before the transplantation, all the white patches of the 6 patients bad been stable for > 12 months. Two weeks after the treatment, pimecrolimus was applied to the wounds twice a day after crust shedding. When the patient achieved > 90% repigmentation of the white patches, pimecrolimus was applied once per three days for maintenance treatment. After the treatment, these patients were followed up for at least 24 months, and the longest follow-up period was 60 months. Results Obvious pigmentation was observed in all the 6 patients 2 months after the transplantation. Meanwhile, 3 patients achieved 80% repigmentation, 2 achieved 70% repigmentation, and 1 achieved 50% repigmentation. Six months after the treatment, 3 patients achieved 95% repigmentation, 2 achieved 80% repigmentation, and 1 still maintained 50% repigmentation. Twelve months after the treatment, 95% repigmentation was still maintained in the 3 patients, 90% repigmentation was achieved in 2 patients, and 1 patient maintained 50% repigmentation, and these outcomes lasted until the end of follow-up. During the follow-up, no adverse reactions were observed. Conclusion Autologous cultured melanocyte transplantation is effective for the treatment of stable genital vitiligo. Key words: Vitiligo; Cell transplantation; Transplantation, autologous; Melanocytes; Genitalia