Autologous Epidermal grafting in Treatment of Vitiligo: Evaluation for Its Effectiveness and Patient Satisfaction / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Autologous epidermal grafting has been reported to be successfully used in the treatment of vitiligo by several authors and is in widespread use at present time. But, the incomplete repigmentation is common and remains stressful to the patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of autologous epidermal grafting in the treatment of vitiligo and investigate the patient satisfaction with the result. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evaluation was conducted on 42 patients with vitiligo who had been treated by autologous epidermal grafting using suction blistered epidermis. We also investigated the patient satisfaction by interviewing with several questions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of the repigmentation objectively evaluated by two dermatologists is high and favorable repigmentation (more than 80 percent) was shown in 76.2% of all the patients. But, the subjective satisfaction of the patients proved not very good, compared with the objective clinical improvement and 40.5% of the patients were unsatisfied with the results. We think the doctors should make the patients understand the expectable results from the epidermal grafting for the best patient satisfaction.