A comparative study between suction blistering graft, mini punch graft, and hair follicle transplant in treatment of patients with stable vitiligo

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired disfiguring common depigmented skin disease.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of suction blistering graft, mini punch and hair follicle techniques in treatment of patients with stable vitiligo.

Methods: Thirty patients with stable vitiligo were included. Patients were divided into 3 groups, in group (A) 10 patient underwent suction blistering technique, in group (B) 10 patients underwent mini punch technique and in group (C) 10 patients underwent hair follicle technique. Then all patients in the three techniques were subjected to narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy for 3 months. All patients were assessed by determining the percentage of repigmentation and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) before and 3 months after the operation.

Results: The percentage of repigmentation of vitiligo in suction blister technique was significantly higher than both mini punch and hair follicle techniques (p value .001 and .0001 respectively). There was a statistically significant difference between the three techniques regarding DLQI score after operation (p value = .0001).

Conclusion: This study concluded that suction blistering technique is more effective and safe than mini punch technique and hair follicle technique in treatment of stable vitiligo.

Keywords:

• Hair follicle transplant
• mini punch graft
• suction blister graft
• vitiligo

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.