title: Treatment of port wine stains with photodynamic therapy, using pulsed dye laser as a light source, compared with pulsed dye laser alone: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laser-induced photo thermal damage has been combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a systemic photosensitiser to treat vascular lesions. The efficacy of PDT using systemic 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) as the photosensitiser and pulsed dye laser (PDL) as the light source in port wine stains (PWS) is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an internally controlled pilot study comparing the efficacy of PDT using PDL as a light source, to PDL alone in the treatment of PWS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PWS improved slightly in all patients but no significant difference was found between the three treatment arms in terms of lesional lightening or incidence and severity of side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no evidence of increased efficacy of PDT using PDL as a light source compared to PDL alone. There was also no significant difference in adverse events. Further studies using different treatment regimens over longer periods of time may be warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Princess of Wales Hospital, Coity Road, Bridgend CF31 1RQ, United Kingdom. Alun.Evans@bromor-tr.wales.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Alun V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: Habib A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kurwa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid