Successful Treatment of Segmental Vitiligo in Children with the Combination of 1-mm Minigrafts and Phototherapy.

BACKGROUND

Minigrafts using a 1-mm biopsy punch (1-mm minigrafts) are being increasingly used to treat vitiligo. However, there have been few reports of the use of 1-mm minigrafts in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effectiveness of combination therapy with 1-mm minigrafts and phototherapy in children with segmental vitiligo.

METHODS

Minigrafts were placed in 13 patients aged ≤16 years with segmental vitiligo. Following surgery, 11 patients underwent irradiation with excimer laser light and 2 with narrow-band ultraviolet B light.

RESULTS

A mean repigmentation of 81.6% was obtained. A particularly high mean repigmentation of 87.9% was seen in patients aged ≤12 years, indicating greater efficacy in these patients than in patients aged ≥13 years (mean, 67.5%). Although a transient cobblestone appearance occurred as an adverse effect, it improved over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined treatment of segmental vitiligo with 1-mm minigrafts and phototherapy can be performed safely and is highly effective in young patients.