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

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.     

Comparing the effectiveness of 585-nm vs 595-nm wavelength pulsed dye laser treatment of port wine stains in conjunction with cryogen spray cooling

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of cryogen spray cooled laser treatment (CSC-LT) at wavelengths of 585 nm vs. 595 nm for port wine stain (PWS) birthmarks in a large series of patients. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 64 patients with PWS treated with the ScleroPLUS [Candela (Wayland, MA)] pulsed dye laser (lambda = 585 or 595 nm wavelength; spot size 7 mm, tau(p) = 1,500 microseconds) over a 3-year period. Subjects' ages ranged between 3 months and 64 years; there were 42 females and 22 males, all of whom were Asian. Number of treatments ranged from 1 to 6. Duration of treatment ranged from 6 months to 2 years 11 months, with a mean of 12 months. Patients (n = 32) received CSC-LT (585 nm) using radiant exposures of 7-10 J/cm(2). A second group of patients (n = 32) received CSC-LT (595 nm) using radiant exposures of 7-10 J/cm(2). The primary efficacy measurement was the quantitative assessment of blanching response scores for CSC-LT (585 nm) versus CSC-LT (595 nm). Patients were monitored for adverse effects. RESULTS: Based on chi-squared analysis, there were clinical, and statistically significant, differences in blanching response scores favoring PWS receiving CSC-LT (585 nm) as compared to CSC-LT (595 nm) (P <.001). Transient hyperpigmentation was noted in 43.7% (n = 14) and 37.5% (n = 12) of patients in the CSC-LT (585 nm) and CSC-LT (595 nm) groups, respectively. In both groups, transient hyperpigmentation resolved in all patients within 1 year. Permanent hypopigmentation or scarring was not observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: CSC-LT (585 nm) resulted in superior blanching as compared to CSC-LT (595 nm). Further study is required to optimize wavelength selection on an individual patient basis during PWS therapy in order to improve treatment results.     

Reduction of pain in the treatment of vascular lesions with a pulsed dye laser and pneumatic skin flattening

The treatment of vascular lesions, including port wine stains (PWSs), with a pulsed dye laser is very painful and often requires general anaesthesia. This is particularly problematic with children. Pneumatic skin flattening (PSF) is a new technology that naturally reduces pain in laser-based aesthetic treatments. The objective of this study was to test pain reduction, as well as lesional clearance, by combining pneumatic skin flattening (PSF) technology with a pulsed dye laser in the treatment of vascular lesions. Twenty-one patients (three of them children) were treated for vascular lesions, mostly PWSs (13 patients). The patients were treated with a 595 nm pulsed dye laser operated at energies of 5.75–13.25 (median 9.25) J/cm². Acute pain was evaluated in all 21 patients. Topical anaesthetic (EMLA cream) was applied before treatment in six cases. Identical energies were applied to both sites. The pain during PSF treatment was compared to pain during regular treatment without PSF. Blanching response to treatment was evaluated in 18 patients after 6–12 weeks. Significant pain reduction was observed in 21/21 patients (100%). The average reduction in pain score was from 10 without PSF (painful) to 2.6 with PSF (comfortable). Follow-up examination of 18 patients after 6–12 weeks showed identical blanching of tissue in both the PSF-treated areas and those not treated with PSF in all patients. It was concluded that the PSF technology significantly reduced pain in the treatment of vascular lesions with a pulsed dye laser without affecting efficacy.     

Single or multiple pulses in the use of the pulsed dye laser for the treatment of port-wine stains

The pulsed dye laser was developed for the treatment of vascular cutaneous lesions using single non-overlapping pulses. However, in practice, overlap and multiple pulses to the same site are commonly used. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of single vs two, three and five pulses to the same site on penetration depth of the laser beam and vascular selectivity. Two albino pigs were treated with a 577 nm, 450s, 3 mm-diameter pulsed dye laser. The effect of multiple pulses to the same site over a range of fluences was analysed histologically from biopsies acquired immediately and at 1 and 4 days after laser irradiation. The results show that multiple pulses to the same site do not increase the penetration depth (maximum depth from the dermo-epidermal junction where damaged blood vessels are observed) of irreversible vascular injury. Cumulative pulses do increase the extent of tissue injury, including both desired vascular changes and unwanted effects such as extravasation. No clinical changes were observed following multiple pulses below 2 J cm^–2. It was concluded that 577 nm, 450s multiple pulses to the same site do not increase penetration depth of vascular injury of the laser beam.     

长脉冲1064nm Gentle YAG激光联合595nm脉冲染料激光治疗增厚型微静脉畸形回顾性分析

目的：观察长脉冲1064nm Gentle YAG激光联合595nm脉冲染料激光治疗增厚型微静脉畸形的临床疗效和不良反应。方法：使用长脉冲1064nm Gentle YAG激光和595nm脉冲染料激光对14例患者进行治疗,其中长脉冲1064nm Gentle YAG激光能量密度150～240J/cm2,光斑直径3mm,脉宽20～40ms;595nm脉冲染料激光能量密度12～15J/cm2,光斑直径7mm,脉宽6～20ms;共治疗2～7次,间隔时间4～8周。结果：痊愈6例（6/14）,显效5例（5/14）,好转3例（3/14）,无效0例。治疗后出现轻度色素沉着3例（3/14）,均在数月后恢复,遗留增生性瘢痕1例（1/14）,凹陷性瘢痕1例（1/14）。结论：长脉冲1064nm Gentle YAG激光联合595nm脉冲染料激光是目前比较安全、高效的治疗增厚型微静脉畸形的方法。