Efficacy of Cyclosporine After Autologous Noncultured Melanocyte Transplantation in Localized Stable Vitiligo—A Pilot, Open Label, Comparative Study

BACKGROUND: Understanding the pathogenesis of vitiligo has lead to innovation of new drugs and new uses of the existing drugs to enhance treatment outcome. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this observational pilot study was to assess the role of cyclosporine (CsA) to tackle the commonest aesthetic problem "perilesional halo" after autologous noncultured melanocyte-keratinocyte cell transplant (NCMKT) for localized, stable vitiligo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the total 50 enrolled patients who underwent NCMKT for stable/resistant vitiligo, aged 12 to 68 years (mean 29.92 years), 18 were male and 32 were female. Group I (n = 25) patients did not receive any postoperative treatment. Group II (n = 25) patients received CsA postoperatively at 3 mg·kg·d for 3 weeks followed by 1.5 mg·kg·d for 6 weeks. RESULTS: In Group I, results were as follows: 28% (n = 7) achieved >75% repigmentation, 16% (n = 4) achieved 50% to 75% repigmentation, 52% (n = 13) achieved 25% to 50% repigmentation, and 4% (n = 1) achieved <25% repigmentation. In Group II, 100% (n = 25) achieved >75% (median 90.7%) repigmentation post-NCMKT at the end of 6 months. CONCLUSION: This new drug regimen using CsA resulted in rapid and uniform repigmentation without leaving any perilesional halo in Group II patients after NCMKT.