Noncultured keratinocyte/melanocyte cosuspension: effect on reepithelialization and repigmentation--a randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Randomized controlled trials in the literature investigating the efficacy of noncultured keratinocyte/melanocyte suspensions are scarce; however, the advocates of such techniques press the value of their application based largely on case studies and anecdote. Caucasian patients with burn hypopigmentation seldom request cosmetic revision making worthwhile clinical trials difficult so that informal case treatments with new therapies generate anecdotal results. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to evaluate whether cosuspensions of noncultured skin cells are capable of (1) decreasing the time to reepithelialization and (2) reestablishing pigmentation in vitiligo leukoderma following epidermal/superficial dermal ablation (in the knowledge that a positive result would make the technique likely to be successful in burn hypopigmentation). Vitiligo is common and is socially more debilitating such that suitable trial subjects for new therapies from this pool are more forthcoming. This study demonstrated that suspensions of noncultured keratinocytes and melanocytes do not decrease the time to epithelialization of superficial partial thickness wounds compared with controls. It also suggested that the achievement, quality, and duration of any pigmentation were unpredictable and largely disappointing. Some pigmentation was recorded in placebo-treated areas indicating an effect of the method of epidermal ablation in these patients. These findings have mandated a complete review of the use of these techniques in burn care at the Royal Adelaide Hospital; they have been omitted from surgical protocols where the aim of use was to speed reepithelialization. Their infrequent use in burns hypopigmentation will continue contingent on the successful repigmentation of a test patch.