Abstract: Li Wei, Hong Weisong, Fu Lifang, Wei Xiaodong, Xu Aie. Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Third People′s Hospital of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310009, China Corresponding author: Xu Aie, Email: xuaiehz@msn.com 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of autologous melanocyte transplantation for the treatment of vitiligo in patients with abnormal thyroid function. Methods A total of 60 patients with vitiligo were enrolled in this study, including 30 with abnormal thyroid function and 30 without. Epidermal sheets were obtained by suction blister biopsy from the normal skin of all the patients followed by melanocyte isolation and culture． After 2 － 5 passages of subculture, the melanocytes were transplanted onto vitiliginous lesions, which were abraded previously by ultra-pulsed CO2 laser, in the corresponding patients. All the patients were followed for 6 － 12 months． Results Of the 30 patients with abnormal thyroid function, 7 patients achieved more than 90% repigmentation, 9 patients 50% － 89% repigmentation, 53.3% more than 50% repigmentation, with the average repigmentation rate being 47% within 6 months after the transplantation. Meanwhile, 13 out of the 30 patients without abnormal thyroid function showed more than 90% repigmentation, 11 showed 50% － 89% repigmentation, with the average repigmentation rate being 75%. Both the cure rate and response rate were significantly higher in the patients without abnormal thyroid function than in those with （cure rate, 43.3% vs. 23.3%, P < 0.05; response rate, 80% vs. 53.3%, P < 0.05）. Significant differences were also found in the response rate for lesions on the face or neck and for those sized more than 20 cm2 between the two groups of patients （both P < 0.05）. The lesions transplanted with epidermal melanocytes from the waist exhibited the lowest cure rate and response rate. Conclusion Clinical or subclinical thyroid dysfunction may have a negative impact on the efficacy of autologous melanocyte transplantation in vitiligo.

Key words: Vitiligo, Melanocytes, Autologous transplantation, Thyroid