Pigmentary Correction of Piebaldism by Autografts: I. Procedures and Clinical Findings

Abstract

Full-thickness and epidermal autografts of normally pigmented skin were transplanted within hypopigmented areas in each of two patients with piebaldism. Full-thickness punch grafts 2 to 4 mm in size retained their pigmentation (donor dominance) and within 4 months pigment was found to have spread around them. Within a year, melanization covered roughly triple the diameter of the grafts (or 9 times their areas) and then came to a standstill. Epidermal grafts (about 12 mm in diameter) healed with no visible scars at either donor or recipient sites. These grafts, too, retained their pigmentation, but no pigment was seen to spread from them in 8 months of observation. Controls of hypopigmented, full-thickness autografts placed into comparable hypopigmented areas showed either no change or but slight pigmentation along the rim of the graft and no spread of pigment.

Disorders of pigmentation

“…[124][125][126][127] mediated signal transduction is required in embryogenesis for the proliferation and migration of melanoblasts from the neural crest. 40,41 Histopathology There are usually no melanocytes and no melanin in the leukodermic areas. 16,35,36 The successful use of autologous grafts to repigment the affected areas is not inconsistent with these theories.…”

Correction of Vitiligo with Contralateral Areolar Skin Graft During Mammary Reduction Plasty

“…Selmanowitz et al [13] have reported on repigmented vitiligo vulgaris which, while resistant to conservative treatment, is successfully treated with multiple minigrafts or punch grafts. They created raw surfaces in the depigmented areas and applied these grafts.…”

Transplante de melanócitos no piebaldismo: relato de caso

“…It is widely known that melanocyte transplantation is the treatment of choice for lesions of piebaldism because it is a safe and effective technique. 11 An Bras Dermatol. 2010;85(3):385-8.…”