Efficacy of topical aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for the treatment of verruca planae.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of verruca planae.


METHODS
A total of 18 patients with facial verruca planae was treated with ALA-PDT. A 10% ALA emulsion was applied on facial lesions for a 4-h incubation period after azone infiltrating for 30 min. Skin lesions of verruca planae were irradiated with 120 J/cm(2) using a 635-nm laser for 10 min. Each patient received at least two sessions at intervals of 15 days. Those with residual lesions after the first session were treated with a third PDT. Before treatment and at each return visit, the lesions were photographed. Patient satisfaction was investigated and therapeutic effect was evaluated at 6 months after termination of the therapy.


RESULTS
Fifteen days after the first topical ALA-PDT, 10 patients achieved complete response and 7 patients showed improvement. Complete clinical response was observed in 17 patients after two sessions. At 6 months after termination, only one case relapsed among the complete clinical response patients, and the patient satisfaction rate was 88.89%.


CONCLUSIONS
PDT, utilizing the topical application of 10% ALA, has a good result and excellent cosmetic effects for the treatment of verruca planae.
Lu
Yuan-Gang
YG
Department of Dermatology, Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. xll515@163.com
Wu
Jin-Jin
JJ
He
Yang
Y
Yang
Hong-Zhen
HZ
Yang
Ya-Dong
YD
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014860:Warts / Q000628:therapy*
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid