title: Topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for the treatment of skin conditions other than non-melanoma skin cancer.
abstract: Topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used increasingly for superficial non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and dysplasia. However, the relative accumulation of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in diseased tissue is not specific for neoplastic disease, and has been shown after the application of ALA to benign proliferative skin conditions such as viral warts and psoriasis. This review appraises the quality of evidence available for the use of topical ALA-PDT in the treatment of skin conditions other than NMSC. The diseases that have been studied in most detail are recalcitrant viral warts, acne, psoriasis and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Publications relating to the treatment of other diseases by topical PDT are restricted to small case series or case reports. The relevant literature will be discussed and the potential for topical PDT in the treatment of several skin diseases is highlighted, although more detailed studies are required to clarify the role of PDT beyond the treatment of NMSC.
authors.affiliation: Photobiology Unit, University Department of Dermatology, Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK. s.h.ibbotson@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ibbotson
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D014860:Warts / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid