Comparative pilot study evaluating the treatment of leg veins with a long pulse ND:YAG laser and sclerotherapy *

Background and Objective To date there have been very few side by side comparison studies of laser versus sclerotherapy in treating small leg veins. This study compares a long pulsed Nd:YAG laser with contact cooling to sclerotherapy for treating small diameter leg veins by evaluating objective and subjective clinical effects. Study Design/Materials and Methods Twenty patients were selected with leg veins ranging from 0.25 to 3 mm at two comparable sites. One site was treated with long pulsed Nd:YAG laser and the other received sotradecol sclerotherapy. The patients followed up at 8 weeks for another possible laser retreatment and 3 months following the last treatment. Photographs were taken pre‐ and post‐operatively and at each follow‐up visit and used for objective comparative analysis. The patients also completed a Quality of Life survey. Results Improvement was tabulated from the photographic assessment on an improvement scale from 0 (no change)–4 (greater than 75% clearing). The laser treated areas averaged 2.50 and sclerotherapy treated sites averaged 2.30. Patient surveys show 35% preferred laser and 45% choose sclerotherapy. Conclusion This pilot study demonstrates that the Lyra Long Pulse Nd:YAG laser can yield results similar to sclerotherapy in the treatment of small leg veins. Lasers Surg. Med. 30:154–159, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.