Amir Feily
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Title: Obvious synergistic effect of fractional CO2 laser before hair grafting on repigmentation in the treatment of refractory and stable vitiligo: A randomized prospective half lesion comparative study
Biography
Biography: Amir Feily
Abstract
Background: Fractional CO2 laser has been reported to be effective in the treatment of refractory and stable vitiligo.
Objectives: Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of the fractional CO2 laser followed by follicular isolation hair transplantation in the treatment of refractory and stable vitiligo and comparing it with hair transplant alone.
Methods: A total of 20 patients with refractory and stable vitiligo presenting at our clinic were enrolled in this randomized prospective half lesion comparative study. Several resistant patches were selected in every patient and randomly divided to two parts and just one part (Part A) was treated with one session fractional CO2 laser. After 5 days equal number of black graft were harvested from scalp and transplanted in both parts. After 5 days dressing the recipient areas were exposed to NBUVB phototherapy twice a week for 3 months. The diameter of repigmentation around each graft was measured monthly by caliper.
Results: After 3 months of examination perifollicular repigmentation was detectable surrounding the 74% of grafted hair follicles. At the end of the first, second and third months of examination the diameter of perifollicular repigmentation of part A was more than part B with 2.96 ± 0.7 mm relative to 2.51 ± 0.6 mm in the first month, 5.36 ± 4.6 mm relative to 3.59 ± 1 mm in the second month and 6.6 ± 5.8 mm relative to 4.3 ±1.8 mm in the third month. There was statistically significant difference between the two groups after all three months of examination.
Conclusion: This study suggests that fractional CO2 laser therapy followed by hair transplant alongside NBUVB photo therapy could be used effectively as an alternative modality for the treatment of refractory vitiligo. Despite promising results, additional studies are required to confirm our study.