Noncultured cellular grafting is a known surgical technique for vitiligo.
Objective
This study evaluated our center's 12-month repigmentation outcome and its maintenance up to 60 months, factors influencing repigmentation and safety data.
Methods
Clinicoepidemiologic and repigmentation data were reviewed for patients with vitiligo who had undergone noncultured cellular grafting from March 2006 to December 2012 at the National Skin Center, Singapore.
Results
All 177 patients who received noncultured cellular grafting during the study period were included. For those with available data, good to excellent repigmentation was present in 83% at 60 months. At 12 months, 88% of patients (n = 52) with segmental vitiligo achieved good to excellent repigmentation compared with 71% (n = 55) with nonsegmental vitiligo (P < .05). More patients on collagen dressings (82%) achieved good to excellent repigmentation compared with those who received hyaluronic acid (63%) (P < .05). Sites of lesions and postgrafting phototherapy did not significantly affect repigmentation outcome. Adverse reactions were uncommon and mild.
Limitations
The study is limited by its retrospective nature, the progressive loss to follow-up of patients, the absence of blinding, and the lack of use of standardized assessment tools.
Conclusion
Noncultured cellular grafting was successful in allowing more than 80% of patients to achieve good to excellent repigmentation for at least 60 months.
