title: Photodynamic therapy with topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid in the treatment of actinic keratoses: an initial clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of actinic keratoses (AK) is rising and there is still a need for therapeutic alternatives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the efficacy and tolerability of topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in the treatment of AK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with 36 lesions (19 at hands and arms, 17 on the head) received ALA-PDT once (occlusive application of a 10% ALA emulsion for 6 h, irradiation with red light, 580-740 nm, 150 J/cm2) and were then monitored for 3 months. Therapeutic efficacy was judged using a score evaluating infiltration and keratosis of AK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 28 days, significantly lower score sums were observed (head: mean = 15%; hand: mean = 67%) compared to the initial score (100%). Complete remission was achieved in 71% of AK localized on the head. No notable side effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated the potential of good efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of AK using topical ALA-PDT. How efficacy for lesions on the hand can be improved and whether PDT is able to concur with established treatment modalities remains to be shown in further studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Szeimies
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karrer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauerwald
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landthaler
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid