title: Selective photosensitizer localization in the human endometrium after intrauterine application of 5-aminolevulinic acid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was twofold: to determine the distribution of the endogenous photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX in the uterus and to ascertain the time interval leading to maximal endometrial fluorescence after intrauterine instillation of 5-aminolevulinic acid.
  
  
  METHODS
  One milliliter of a 400 mg/ml 5-aminolevulinic acid-Hyskon solution was instilled into the uterine cavity of 27 women before hysterectomy. On frozen sections of uterine samples 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence was measured with fluorescence microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  5-Aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence could first be detected in the superficial endometrial glands 75 minutes after drug injection. In the endometrial gland stumps fluorescence intensity peaked 4 to 8 hours after 5-aminolevulinic acid instillation and was > 48 times higher than in the underlying myometrium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluorescence in the endometrial glands suggests that selective photodynamic destruction of the endometrium may be possible 4 to 8 hours after intrauterine 5-aminolevulinic acid instillation.
authors.affiliation: Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University of California, Irvine 92715, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Fehr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wyss
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Tromberg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krasieva
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: DiSaia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tadir
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; C028025:protoporphyrin IX