Promoting Repigmentation after Epidermal-cell suspension grafting and preVENTing the loss of melanocytes using topical ruxolitinib for vitiligo in resistant areas (PREVENT): a prospective monocentric interventional double-blind study

Despite recent advances in treating vitiligo, disappointing results are still observed on difficult-to-treat areas, such as the knees, elbows, wrists, hands and feet. A prospective, monocentric, double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of autologous epidermal-cell suspension followed by ruxolitinib cream for repigmenting resistant areas. Three of the 19 patients achieved at least 50% repigmentation with the combination approach after 24 weeks, when none was observed with the epidermal grafting alone, but most of the lesions failed to respond. These results suggest that not only the differentiation of melanocytes, but most probably also their proliferation and survival are altered in the difficult-to-treat areas.