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Treatment of port wine stains with photodynamic therapy, using pulsed dye laser as a Light Source, Compared With Pulsed dye laser alone: A pilot study
Author(s) -
Evans Alun V.,
Robson Alistair,
Barlow Richard J.,
Kurwa Habib A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.20151
Subject(s) - port wine , photodynamic therapy , port wine stain , medicine , dye laser , intense pulsed light , light source , dermatology , significant difference , laser , laser light , blue light , surgery , optics , materials science , chemistry , optoelectronics , physics , organic chemistry
Background and Objectives Laser‐induced photo thermal damage has been combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a systemic photosensitiser to treat vascular lesions. The efficacy of PDT using systemic 5‐aminolaevulinic acid (5‐ALA) as the photosensitiser and pulsed dye laser (PDL) as the light source in port wine stains (PWS) is unknown. Study Designs/Materials and Methods We conducted an internally controlled pilot study comparing the efficacy of PDT using PDL as a light source, to PDL alone in the treatment of PWS. Results The PWS improved slightly in all patients but no significant difference was found between the three treatment arms in terms of lesional lightening or incidence and severity of side effects. Conclusions There was no evidence of increased efficacy of PDT using PDL as a light source compared to PDL alone. There was also no significant difference in adverse events. Further studies using different treatment regimens over longer periods of time may be warranted. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.