Adipose Derived Stem Cells in the Treatment of Vitiligo

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired skin disorder with challenging treatment options. Adipose-derived stem cells can stimulate the differentiation of the adjacent cells into specialized cells owing to the effect of several growth factors. They may be able to differentiate into melanocyte precursors.
 Objective: To detect the safety and effectiveness of ADSCs in the vitiligo treatment.
 Methods: We recruited 15 patients in this study with stable vitiligo which is resistant to the ordinary methods of treatment. The injection of ADSCs was done in single session then followed by narrow band-UVB sessions twice weekly and the patients were assessed clinically after three months.
 Results: The median percentage of re-pigmentation was 60%, while regarding the degree of improvement, 26-6% of patients showed excellent and 33.3% of patients had good responses. 53.3% of patients did not have any side effects while other patients experienced minimal side effects.
 Conclusion: ADSCs could be a promising and safe alternative treatment for resistant vitiligo cases.