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A controlled trial of photodynamic therapy of actinic keratosis comparing different red light sources

  • Therapy
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) with red light is well established for actinic keratosis (AK). Differences have been observed concerning pain and efficacy rates with different red light sources. Objectives: To compare pain scores, shortand long-term efficacy rates of PDT of multiple AKs when employing different red light sources.

Material and methods

In a controlled trial, 88 patients (310 AK lesions) received ALA-PDT in combination with either visible light (VIS) + water-filtered infrared A (wIRA) light (PhotoDyn® 750 (PD750), 580–1400 nm) for 30 min or incoherent light (Waldmann® 1200L (Wa1200L), 600–720 nm) for 10–11 min. Followup visits were performed after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. If there was no complete cure after 1, 3 or 6 months, a second cycle of PDT was performed.

Results

Pain scores were significantly lower in patients illuminated with PD750 rather than Wa1200L. Patient complete clearance rates were 85% and 91% after 1 month, 79% and 92% after 3 months, 97% and 92% after 6 months, and 69% and 85% after 12 months in the PD750 and Wa1200L groups, respectively. Lesion complete clearance rates were 94% and 92% after 1 month, 88% and 97% after 3 months, 96% and 95% after 6 months, and 81% and 89% after 12 months in the PD750 and Wa1200L group, respectively. The efficacy rates were not significantly different.

Conclusions

AVIS + wIRA light source produced considerably less pain, while efficacy was not much affected in contrast to previously published studies, probably because the illumination time was longer in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Frauenlobstr. 9-11, 80337, Munich, Germany

    Kathrin A. Giehl, Martin Kriz, Maja Grahovac, Thomas Ruzicka & Carola Berking

  2. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Klinikum Augsburg, Stenglistr. 2, 86156, Augsburg, Germany

    Martin Kriz

Authors
  1. Kathrin A. Giehl
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  2. Martin Kriz
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  3. Maja Grahovac
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  4. Thomas Ruzicka
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  5. Carola Berking
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carola Berking.

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Giehl, K.A., Kriz, M., Grahovac, M. et al. A controlled trial of photodynamic therapy of actinic keratosis comparing different red light sources. Eur J Dermatol 24, 335–341 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2014.2364

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2014.2364

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