Split-face comparison of intense pulsed light with short- and long-pulsed dye lasers for the treatment of port-wine stains.
BACKGROUND
So far, pulsed dye lasers have been regarded as the gold standard in the treatment of port-wine stains (PWS). Recently, intense pulsed light (IPL) has been reported to achieve more pronounced fading in some patients.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and the side effects of IPL treatment of PWS in a direct comparison to the short-pulsed dye laser (SPDL) and the long-pulsed dye laser (LPDL).


METHODS
Test spots (n = 158) were applied with IPL (λ(em) = 555-950 nm, pulse duration: 8-14 milliseconds (single pulse), fluence: 11-17.3 J/cm(2)), the SPDL (λ(em) = 585 nm, pulse duration: 0.45 milliseconds, fluence: 6 J/cm(2)), and the LPDL (λ(em) = 585/590/595/600 nm, pulse duration: 1.5 milliseconds, fluence: 12/14/16/18 J/cm(2)) in a side-by-side modus in untreated (n = 11) and previously treated (n = 14) patients with PWS. Lesion clearance was evaluated by three blinded investigators based on follow-up photographs 6 weeks after treatment. Incidence of side effects was assessed.


RESULTS
In previously untreated PWS as well as in pretreated PWS, IPL treatments were rated significantly (P<0.05) better than treatments with the SPDL. In both groups, IPL and LPDL treatments did not differ significantly. Side effects were few in all settings.


CONCLUSIONS
In PWS resistant to dye laser therapy, IPL showed additional lesion clearance. The use of IPL increases the therapeutic possibilities in PWS.
Babilas
Philipp
P
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany. philipp.babilas@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Schreml
Stephan
S
Eames
Tatiana
T
Hohenleutner
Ulrich
U
Szeimies
Rolf-Markus
RM
Landthaler
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054025:Lasers, Dye; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D055815:Young Adult