Fractional versus full ablative CO laser in recipient site of non-cultured melanocytes and keratinocyte transplantation in treatment of vitiligo.

Background: Melanocyte-keratinocyte transplant procedure (MKTP) or non-cultured epidermal cell suspension transplantation is a very popular surgical modality for treating stable vitiligo. The recipient-site preparation is one potential determinant in the repigmentation outcomes.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of fractional CO (FCO ) laser in recipient-site preparation before MKTP and comparing it to the frequently used full surface laser ablation.

Methods: This randomized comparative trial included 19 patients with 40 stable vitiligo lesions. In each patient, the treated sites were randomly categorized into two groups according to the recipient-site ablation (either fractional or full ablative CO laser). Assessment of repigmentation was performed six months after the procedure.

Results: Both modalities achieved successful repigmentation of a median of 80% and 77.5% for fractional and full ablation groups, respectively, with a non-statistically significant difference between them. The median of VASI change percent was -73% and -71% with fractional and full surface ablation, respectively.

Conclusions: FCO laser ablation is effective for recipient-site preparation before cell suspension transplantation as well as the full ablative CO laser.