Henry Ford Hospital United States and Saudi Arabia's National Vitiligo Center successfully performed skin transplants for patients with vitiligo. This disease makes the skin color of the marked loss of white patches in the size and specific location. "This operation gives hope for vitiligo patients," said a senior physician at Henry Ford Hospital Department of Dermatology, Iltefat Hamzavi. So far, said Hamzavi, there is no cure for vitiligo. So that did not develop the disease is controlled with light therapy, creams, and topical medications. "Transplantation of the skin is more effective than light therapy and medication," he said.
The skin is closed in vitiligo skin melanocytes were developed from skin cells healthy patients. These cells produce pigment (coloring) in the skin, hair and eyes. These cells, said Hamzavi, called mixed skin cell that is ready to be transplanted. Mixed cell is placed on the damaged skin and covered with a special adhesive. Transplant surgery using local anesthesia and lasts for 30 minutes to 2 hours. The patient, said Hamzavi, no need to be hospitalized.
Foundation-funded study involved 32 Shahani Michigan vitiligo patients consisting of 18 men and 14 women aged 18-60 years. They are from ethnic Caucasian, South Asian, African-American and Hispanic (Latin-American descendants of African-American). According Hamzavi after six months 23 patients had improved 52 percent, and 8 patients of certain types of vitiligo, the color of her skin improved 74 percent compared with natural skin tones.
Skin transplants, continued Hamzavi, has been successfully performed in the hands, arms, feet, face and stomach. The average size of 46 cm2 treated area or size of a credit card. This operation has been performed in Europe, Asia especially the Middle East