title: Photodynamic therapy with delta-aminolevulinic acid and light-emitting diodes in actinic keratosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photodynamic therapy is a form of treatment in which a photosensitizing substance is applied to tissue and activated by a light source at a specific wavelength, thus selectively destroying cells. New light sources are being evaluated for use in the treatment of actinic keratoses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy with delta-aminolevulinic acid using a light emitting diode device as a light source in the treatment of actinic keratoses of the face and upper limbs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with actinic keratoses of the face or upper limbs received an application of a 20% delta-aminolevulinic acid cream and were submitted to diode light irradiation at a wavelength of 630 nm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 328 actinic keratoses were treated, obtaining complete cure in 210 (64.0%) after 24 weeks. Lesions situated on the back of the hands were clinically cured in 49.2% of cases compared to 81.4% in the cases of lesions in other areas. There was no record of any severe adverse effects and patient satisfaction with the results was high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Photodynamic therapy with a diode light emitting source proved effective and well-tolerated for the treatment of actinic keratoses, with results similar to those reported in the literature with other light sources.
authors.affiliation: Porto Alegre Teaching Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil. clariceritter@gmail.com
authors.forename: Clarice Gabardo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Isabel Cristina Palma
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Kuhl
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lenhardt
authors.forename: Marlene Laks
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Weissbluth
authors.forename: Renato Marchiori
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bakos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001132:Arm; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid