Abstract: Huang Jun, Lin Fuquan, Hong Weisong, Fu Lifang, Wei Xiaodong, Xu Ai′e Department of Dermatology, Hangzhou Third Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou 310009, China Corresponding author: Xu Ai′e, Email: xuaiehz@msn.com 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the value of the severity of isomorphic response at the donor site in evaluation of the therapeutic effect of cultured melanocyte transplantation. Methods A total of 172 vitiligo patients, who received cultured melanocyte transplantation or non-cultured epidermal suspension transplantation at the Department of Dermatology of Hangzhou Third Hospital from May 2008 to August 2016 and developed isomorphic response at the donor site, were enrolled into this study. According to the area of isomorphic response, these patients were divided into 2 groups: incomplete isomorphic response group whose area of isomorphic response was less than the suction area, and complete isomorphic response group whose area of isomorphic response was equal to the suction area. The correlation between therapeutic effects of melanocyte transplantation and isomorphic response was analyzed. Results Of the 172 patients, 83 had incomplete isomorphic response, and 89 had complete isomorphic response at the donor site. In the incomplete isomorphic response group, 21 （25.3%） patients were cured, and 17 （20.5%） were markedly improved, while 4 （4.5%） patients were cured, and 11 （12.4%） were improved in the complete isomorphic response group. Additionally, the response rate was significantly higher in the incomplete isomorphic response group than in the complete isomorphic response group （45.8% vs. 16.9%, χ2 = 31.581, P < 0.001）. Furthermore, the duration of stable phase was also significantly longer in the incomplete isomorphic response group than in the complete isomorphic response group （18.5 ± 15.3 months vs. 10.2 ± 7.3 months, t = 4.581, P < 0.001）. Correlation analysis showed that the duration of stable phase, which was classified into 5 grades including 6 - 11 months, 12 - 23 months, 24 - 35 months, 36 - 47 months and ≥ 48 months, was negatively correlated with the severity （incomplete or complete） of isomorphic response （rs = -0.322, P < 0.001）, but positively correlated with repigmentation rates of the skin lesions （rs = 0.675, P < 0.001）. Conclusion The length of duration of stable phase is an important factor affecting the therapeutic effect of melanocyte transplantation in vitiligo patients with isomorphic response at the donor site, and the severity of isomorphic response can indicate the length of duration of stable phase and predict the therapeutic effect of melanocyte transplantation.

Key words: Vitiligo, Melanocytes, Cell transplantation, Treatment outcome, Koebner phenomenon