Outcome of Repeated Use of Donor Site for Noncultured Epidermal Cellular Grafting in Stable Vitiligo: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

© 2019 Vasanop Vachiramon et al. Background. Noncultured epidermal suspension (NCES) is a surgical technique which employs cellular grafting onto depigmented lesions. However, scarring and dyschromia at the donor site often occurs. Objective. To assess the outcome of reusing the same donor site in subsequent sessions of NCES procedures. Methods. Electronic records of vitiligo patients who had undergone two sessions of NCES procedures were retrospectively reviewed. Information on the first and second NCES was retrieved for analyses. Results. A total of 30 patients (female 19 and male 11) were included. The majority of patients had nonsegmental vitiligo (66.7%). The median donor-to-recipient ratios were 1: 3 (1: 1-1: 20) for the first session and 1: 3 (1: 1-1: 13.5) for the second session (p=0.661). The mean melanocyte count was 220.7 ± 65.5 cells/mm2 vs. 242.4 ± 55.3 cells/mm2 on the first and second sessions, respectively (p=0.440). The mean repigmentation rate was 84.2% (±21.1%) and 82.3 (±22.1%) for the first and second NCESs, respectively (p=0.645). The frequency of color mismatch and pigment loss were similar between both sessions (p=0.706 and p=1.000). Conclusions. Repeated use of donor sites in subsequent NCES sessions gave comparable repigmentation.