COMPARISON OF AUTOLOGOUS NONCULTURED MELANOCYTE SUSPENSION VERSUS FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION (FUE) IN TREATMENT OF STABLE VITILIGO.

Background: Vitiligo is a common form of localized depigmentation, dened as an acquired condition resulting from the progressive loss of melanocytes. Surgical treatment is indicated in stable disease not responding to medical treatment. Present study was aimed to compare outcome of autologous noncultured melanocyte suspension versus Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) in treatment of stable vitiligo at a tertiary hospital. Material and Methods: Present study was single-center, comparative, observational study, conducted patients of age > 18 years, either gender, with vitiligo stable for 1 year, underwent autologous melanocyte transfer or follicular unit extraction. In present study, 24 patients of stable Results: vitiligo were enrolled. Majority patients were from the age group of 18-25years (62.5 %) & mean age of patients was 26.27± 5.99 years ranging from 18 years till 45 years. Out of 24 patients, 15 (62%) were females and 9 (37.5 %) were males. There was a positive family history of vitiligo in 16.67 % patients. Majority of the patients (62.5 %) were unmarried. The leucotrichia was seen in 29.17 % patients. Majority of the patients (45.83 %) had involvement of face and neck followed by lower extremity (29.17 %), trunk (12.5 %) and upper limbs (12.5 %). 58.33 % of patients were of localized type of vitiligo type, followed by acral (29.17%) and segmental vitiligo (12.5 %). Both group AMT & group FUE showed Excellent response in 66.67 % patches while good repigmentation was seen in both group AMT & group FUE in 33.33 % patches Immediate complications like secondary infection at Donor site was seen in 1 patient (8.33 %) & late complication like hyperpigmentation was seen in 1 patient (8.33 %). Conclusion: Surgical methods of treatment for stable vitiligo such as autologous melanocyte transfer or follicular unit extraction, obtained was excellent & good repigmentation.