[Photochemotherapy of cutaneous AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma with indocyanine green and laser light].
OBJECTIVE
Indocyanine green (ICG) is a clinically approved dye for diagnostic purposes, which has an absorption peak in the near infrared and remains intravascular due to a high plasma protein binding. Its therapeutic potential in combination with a diode laser was studied for well vascularized cutaneous tumors.


METHODS
Six male patients (mean age 49.2 years) with AIDS-related Kaposi sarcomas (n = 30) received ICG (2 x 2 mg/kg i.v.) followed directly by irradiation with a diode laser (lambda = 805 nm, 100 J/cm2, 3 W/cm2).


RESULTS
All macular and plaque-type lesions (n = 27) showed primarily blister- and crust formation and healed within 14 days. Only one out of the 3 nodular lesions treated showed complete remission. The only side effect recognized was a mild burning sensation during irradiation. Nineteen lesions resolved completely leaving a slight atrophic scar, in three lesions a transient postinflammatory hyperpigmentation occurred. Within the follow-up period of 2 years no recurrence was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
The ICG-mediated photochemotherapy is an effective palliative therapeutic modality with a low rate of side effects in the treatment of macular or plaque-type cutaneous Kaposi sarcomas.
Szeimies
R M
RM
Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie, Klinikum der Universität Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg. Rolf-Markus.Szeimies@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Lorenzen
T
T
Karrer
S
S
Abels
C
C
Plettenberg
A
A
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green