What's New in the Treatment of Vitiligo
July 2001
in “
JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
”
8-methoxypsoralen UVA corticosteroids narrow-band UVB therapy melanocyte grafting cultured pigment cell transplantation pseudocatalase melanocyte transplantation repigmentation combination therapies pathogenesis melanocyte division melanocyte migration psoralen UVB therapy pigment cell transplantation
TLDR New treatments for vitiligo show promise but still face challenges, especially for hands and feet.
The document reviewed the evolution of vitiligo treatments over the past 50 years, highlighting significant advancements such as the introduction of 8-methoxypsoralen with UVA, corticosteroids, and narrow-band UVB therapy. Melanocyte grafting and cultured pigment cell transplantation emerged as important tools for refractory cases. Recent innovations included pseudocatalase for neutralizing reactive molecules and precise surgical techniques for melanocyte transplantation. Despite these advancements, repigmentation rates remained around 70-75%, with certain areas like hands and feet being particularly challenging. The document suggested that combination therapies, integrating medical and surgical approaches, could improve outcomes. Future research should focus on understanding the pathogenesis of vitiligo and developing molecules to stimulate melanocyte division and migration, potentially transforming vitiligo into a stable condition with more effective repigmentation strategies.
