title: Response of vulval lichen sclerosus and squamous hyperplasia to photodynamic treatment using sustained topical delivery of aminolevulinic acid from a novel bioadhesive patch system.
abstract: This study evaluated the clinical and histopathological responses of vulval lichen sclerosus (LS) and squamous hyperplasia (SH) to photodynamic therapy (PDT). A novel bioadhesive patch containing aminolevulinic acid (ALA) at a dose of (38 mg/cm(2)) was used to treat 10 patients before irradiation with light of 630 nm. Clinical, histopathological and pathological responses to treatment were assessed at 6 weeks post-treatment. After 17 cycles of PDT, six patients reported significant symptomatic relief and no cutaneous photosensitivity. Histopathological differences were not demonstrated, but statistically significant induction of apoptosis was seen. It can be concluded that ALA-PDT patch-based formulation is pragmatic and primarily offers symptomatic management of vulval LS and SH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Agnieszka A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zawislak
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: McCluggage
authors.forename: Ryan F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Dobbs
authors.forename: H Raymond
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: McClelland
authors.forename: A David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Woolfson
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mccarron
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007724:Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid