Impacts of Two Laser‐Assisted Epidermal Ablation Techniques on the Efficacy of Autologous Non‐Cultured Epidermal Cell Suspension Transplantation Plus Narrowband Ultraviolet B Phototherapy for the Treatment of Stable Vitiligo: A Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT Objectives Autologous non‐cultured epidermal cell suspension (NECS) transplantation is an effective therapeutic approach for managing stable vitiligo, and laser‐assisted epidermal ablation is a common recipient area preparation procedure before NECS transplantation. We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of two different lasers used in NECS transplantation combined with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) therapy for treatment of stable vitiligo. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, 63 white macules in 54 patients with stable vitiligo were assessed for the repigmentation rate and any adverse effects associated with NECS transplantation combined with NB‐UVB therapy at 1, 3, and 6 months post‐transplantation. The epidermis was ablated using either a Kinglaser CO2 fractional laser used in the fully ablative mode at 100% coverage (KL) or an ultra‐pulse CO2 laser (UL). Results At the 6‐month follow‐up, the repigmentation rates in the KL group were graded as excellent in 28.6%, good in 9.5%, fair in 42.9%, and poor in 19.0%, giving an effective rate of 38.1%. In the UL group, the rates were graded as 73.8%, 14.3%, 7.1%, and 4.8%, respectively, giving an effective rate of 88.1% ( p < 0.001). The Visual Analog Scale score for pain during the laser‐assisted epidermal ablation was higher in the UL group than in the KL group ( p < 0.0001). The UL group had a significantly higher incidence of mild to moderate persistent erythema at 1 month post‐transplantation than the KL group ( p = 0.002). Conclusions UL can achieve better repigmentation efficacy than KL when used for epidermal ablation during NECS transplantation plus NB‐UVB therapy in patients with stable vitiligo. However, regarding adverse events, the UL procedure is more painful and has a higher incidence of mild to moderate persistent erythema during the early postoperative period. Larger studies are required to assess the impacts of various laser de‐epidermalization techniques on the efficacy of NECS transplantation for stable vitiligo.