Thirty-six percent of stable vitiligo lesions treated with autologous skin cell suspension achieved 80% or more repigmentation by week 24, compared to 0% with narrow-band ultraviolet B therapy alone, according to a recent study.
Researchers assessed the efficacy and safety of autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) transplantation for repigmentation in stable vitiligo. Conducted as a U.S. multicenter, randomized, within-subject controlled trial, the research included 25 participants aged at least 18 years with vitiligo stabilized for at least 1 year.
Researchers compared ASCS treatment, involving laser resurfacing and narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy, to NB-UVB monotherapy (control). The ASCS preparation used the RECELL device to create a suspension of melanocytes, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts, applied to depigmented lesions after laser ablation.
Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the primary endpoint was the proportion of lesions achieving 80% or more repigmentation at week 24. Forty percent of ASCS-treated lesions maintained 80% or more repigmentation through week 52, demonstrating durability.
Secondary endpoints indicated superior repigmentation in the ASCS group, with 56% achieving more than 50% repigmentation by week 24, compared to 12% in the control group. Early repigmentation was observed, with 26% of ASCS-treated lesions achieving 80% or more repigmentation by week 12. Color matching at week 52 was favorable, with 88% of ASCS-treated areas rated as “good” or “excellent.”
Patient-reported outcomes reinforced the effectiveness of ASCS, with 80% of participants reporting treatment success for ASCS-treated areas at week 24, compared to 48% for controls. Investigator assessments aligned with patient reports, showing consistent improvements in repigmentation and satisfaction with donor sites. Adverse events were minimal, with no device-related serious events reported. The most common events included mild pruritus and erythema.
Limitations of the study include small sample size, restricting detailed subgroup analyses, a lack of diversity in participants with darker Fitzpatrick skin types and varied racial backgrounds, and variability in recipient site preparation. Future research should aim to increase the sample size to better identify predictive factors and evaluate the combined use of ASCS with other medical and phototherapeutic treatments to improve stability and repigmentation outcomes, noted researchers.
The study demonstrated ASCS as a safe and effective treatment for stable vitiligo, providing durable repigmentation and favorable cosmetic outcomes. ASCS represents a practical, point-of-care option for patients with refractory vitiligo lesions, as supported by the trial results.
Full disclosures can be found in the published study.
