Progressive ascending telangiectasia treated with the 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser.
OBJECTIVE
Progressive ascending telangiectasia (PAT) is a distinct entity with telangiectatic superficial vessels on lower extremities as its main clinical feature. A relationship with occult infections and response to antibiotic and antifungal drugs have been described, although not all cases can be successfully managed with these therapies. Our objective was to treat a woman with PAT that had failed to respond to systemic antibiotic and antifungal drugs.


METHODS
A 44-year-old woman with PAT was treated with the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser at 585 nm, with fluences varying from 7 to 7.25 J/cm2.


RESULTS
A successful outcome was obtained with this treatment approach, with no relevant adverse effects except for mild pigmentary changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Although ectatic vessels on lower extremities are often resistant to dye laser therapy, superficial thin capillaries like those featuring PAT can be eliminated with the pulsed dye laser at 585 nm. Transient pigmentary changes occur on treated areas but they are expected to disappear in 6 to 12 months after treatment. Laser treatment should be considered in PAT despite the extension and location of the lesions.
Pérez
B
B
Servicio de Dermatologiáa, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
Núñez
M
M
Boixeda
P
P
Harto
A
A
Ledo
A
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome