The early repigmentation pattern of vitiligo is related to the source of melanocytes and by the choice of therapy: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with vitiligo present with different repigmentation patterns in the early recovery stage.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the relationships between early repigmentation patterns in vitiliginous patches, their clinical characteristics, and therapeutic choices.

METHODS: Patients with vitiligo seen in the Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2010 to 2015, were included, and their clinical records, especially photographs and medical treatments, were reviewed.

RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen patients were included in this study, and 326 lesions with different degrees of depigmentation, locations, stages, distributions, therapies, and repigmentation patterns were included and analyzed. Perifollicular repigmentation occurred more frequently in lesions with complete depigmentation (P = 0.005), in non-sun exposed areas (P < 0.001), a stable stage (P = 0.008), and lesions treated with narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) (P < 0.001, despite lesion distributions). Marginal repigmentation is more frequent in lesions with complete depigmentation (P = 0.016), lesions treated without NB-UVB (P = 0.002), and facial lesions treated with topical vitamin D analogs (TVDAs) monotherapy (P = 0.022). Diffuse repigmentation is the predominant pattern in lesions with incomplete depigmentation (P < 0.001), in sun-exposed areas (P < 0.001), progressive stage (P = 0.044), and truncal lesions treated with TVDAs (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The different repigmentation patterns of vitiligo lesions depend on the different source and status of melanocytes and their abilities to produce melanin on the choice of therapy.