The Effect of Platelet Rich Plasma on the Treatment Outcome of Minigraft/NB-UVB Therapy in Stable Vitiligo: Clinical Evaluation and Effect on Tissue levels of bFGF

Abstract

itiligo is a common, asymptomatic, acquired depigmentation disorder, clinically characterized by milky white sharply demarcated, macules and patches that are scattered symmetrically or asymmetrically over the body causing severe cosmetic distress and social stigma. It can be classified as nonsegmental, segmental, mixed, or unclassified. In vitiligo, melanocytes are targeted by multiple aggressions leading to marked reduction and destruction of pigment cells, including autoimmune process, altered cellular environment, defective melanocytes migration, stress, and genetic factors. Treatment of vitiligo includes many option. Medical options may be either topical or systemic, phototherapy such as NB-UVB and PUVA. Surgical treatment is indicated in resistant stable vitiligo that does not show adequate response to medical therapy, and include punch grafting, suction blister grafting, split thickness skin grafts, autologous non-cultured epidermal cell suspensions and cultured melanocyte suspension. PRP is considered a new modality in the treatment of vitiligo due to the prescence of high concentrations of growth factors that are known to regulate many processes including cell migration, attachment, proliferation and differentiation.