Efficacy of Miniature Punch Grafting Followed by Puvasol Therapy in Refractory Stable Vitiligo

Abstract

Introduction: Vitiligo affects approximately 2% of the worldwide population regardless of race, ethnic background or gender. When the medical methods are not successful, surgical procedures may be considered with the aim of placing a new source of pigment cells to reinitiate melanogenesis within the affected areas. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of combining punch grafting followed by PUVASOL therapy in vitiligo patients. After punch grafting patients are given PUVA/PUVASOL exposure.

Objective: To study the efficacy of miniature punch grafting followed by PUVASOL therapy in refractory stable vitiligo.

Material and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana from May 2005 to March 2007. Fifteen patients of chronic stable vitiligo not responding to medical treatment and attending the outpatient department of dermatology were included in study. Appropriate statistical methods were used to analyse the data.

Conclusion: Patients subjected to Miniature Punch Grafting showed more than 80% acceptance in all selected age groups and among both the sex. There was an inverse relationship between number of grafts inserted and rejection rate. Most common side effect seen was cobblestoning (60%) with few patients showing graft displacement and hematoma formation too.