Autologous grafting with noncultured melanocytes: a simplified method for treatment of depigmented lesions.

Abstract

Achromic lesions on the trunk and the extremities often do not respond to treatment and little improvement is obtained in cases of segmental vitiligo. Transplantation of autologous noncultured melanocytes was performed to obtain a successful repigmentation. The grafting method is carried out in two steps: production of blisters on the depigmented lesions by freezing with liquid nitrogen and injection in each blister of a suspension of epidermal cells (mainly keratinocytes and melanocytes). The cellular suspension was obtained from samples of skin of the hair scalp after trypsinization. Repigmentation was evident within 25 to 30 days. Coalescence of the pigmented areas was spontaneously observed or obtained after UVA stimulation. Patients with two types of leukoderma-vitiligo or nevus depigmentosus had successful repigmentation after transplantation of autologous noncultured melanocytes. This technique appears to be an effective and simple method for treating patients with achromic areas lacking melanocytes.