Treating REM syndrome with the pulsed dye laser.
OBJECTIVE
REM syndrome (reticular erythematous mucinosis) is a benign but bothersome skin disease that common occurs in middle age and among women. Local and systemic treatment measures are often associated with a high rate of side effects and relapses are common. We evaluated the pulsed dye laser as an alternative method because of its good efficacy in vascular skin diseases.


METHODS
We treated two female patients with REM syndrome using the pulsed dye laser.


RESULTS
In both patients the erythematous skin changes were almost completely removed after five and three laser sessions, respectively. Other than transient hypopigmentation, no side effects occurred. In one case there is still no evidence of recurrence 6 years after a trial treatment was conducted. In the same patient, clinical success was histologically confirmed.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report on the successful treatment of REM syndrome of two female patients with the pulsed dye laser.
Greve
B
B
Laserklinik Karlsruhe, Kaiserstrasse 104, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Raulin
C
C
D000328:Adult; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004890:Erythema / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000209:etiology; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017520:Mucinoses / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome