Melanocyte Transplantation in Vitiligo – The Science Behind and Rates of Success
(Newswire.net — June 28, 2018) — Vitiligo is one of the most common cutaneous disorders, characterized by e severe depigmentation of the skin. While there is no definitive cure for it, there are therapies and treatment methods that are currently developed. Recent developments in the medical and pharmaceutical industry are promising enough and some patients experience 95% rates of success with these new therapies. Melanocyte transplantation is one of those powerful and incredibly promising therapies, that notorious Vitiligo treatment centers around the world rely on for improving the appearance and quality of life of their patients. Some patients, are unsuitable for melanocyte transplantation, in their case, treatment centers opt for other therapies that may be well-received by the patient. However, for those suitable for melanocyte transplantation, there are four methods through which this can be accomplished with increased rates of success (more than 95%).
Transfer of non-cultured melanocyte suspension
Non-cultured epidermal suspensions in vitiligo treatment are extremely safe, simple and highly efficient method to treat depigmentation in vitiligo patient’s case. In this method, the normal skin on the patient undergoes a thin tissue biopsy. After this, the specimen is treated to remove the epidermis from the other skin layers, as melanocytes are located in the epidermis. The epidermis is afterwards treated in such a fashion to obtain the melanocyte solution. The skin patches affected by vitiligo are carefully treated with dermabrasion and the melanocyte solution is applied to the treated area. The skin and bandages used afterwards are kept in place for several days, for the melanocyte solution to penetrate the deeper epidermis.
Transfer of cultured melanocyte solutions
The process, in this case, is a bit different, the epidermis layer removed in the biopsy being trypsinized and treated in several mechanical steps to obtain melanocytes. These cells are afterwards cultured and incubated for a certain interval, to multiply and raise in number. This method is suitable for those patients that have higher areas to treat. The melanocytes obtained this way are also applied to the treated areas.
Suction blister grafts
In this particular case, a blister is artificially created on the patient’s skin and then surgically removed. The dome of the blister is filled with melanocytes. The blister removed is then attached to the vitiligo patches, bandages for several days and UVB phototherapy is performed after a certain interval to stimulate melanin production in the treated areas.
Ultra-thin epidermal grafting
In this case of vitiligo grafting, skin cells are collected from the gluteus maximus, while the receiving areas are treated with laser light. The purpose of the procedure is to remove the epidermis of the vitiligo area and to place the pigmented cells to the discolored patches. Once again, bandages are applied to the treated area and left untouched for a while.
All these vitiligo transplantation methods show high rates of success in the treated patients, over 95%. Another method that also shows amazing results in patients of numerous clinics around the world is the miniaturic punch grafting method. In this particular case, the patient will have a 1mm skin piece removed from the buttock and grafted in the vitiligo area. Multi-layer bandages will be afterwards applied to the areas and kept there for almost a week. The area will then be treated with UVB light for the grafted skin and pigment to catch.