title: Efficacy of photodynamic therapy in the short and medium term in the treatment of actinic keratosis, Basal cell carcinoma, acne vulgaris and photoaging: results from four clinical trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical efficacy of methyl-aminolevulinate (MAL)-Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), acne vulgaris (AV) and photoaging (PA), in the short and medium term.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four separate prospective studies were designed on patients with AK (n=25), BCC (n=20), AV (n=20) and PA (n=25). Two PDT protocols were applied, and different clinical efficacy criteria were established, including lesion count and size. Two semi-quantitative and four analogue visual scales were completed for the evaluation of results according to the therapist, the patient and two independent experts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the AK and BCC studies, full clinical remission was observed in 84.7% and 75.7% of lesions, respectively. In the AV study, the number of inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions fell significantly (p<0.001, p<0.05). In the PA study a reduction in Dover scale scores (3.19 vs. 2.14, p<0.001) was proven. The percentages of satisfied or very satisfied patients were: AK=88%, BCC=90%, AV=89% and PA=80%. A year later, none of the AK or BCC lesions had reappeared, and the cases of AV and PA remained stable, with a tendency towards improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the MAL-PDT procedures used produced efficacious, safe and satisfactory results in KA, BCC, AV and PA in the short and medium term.
authors: IMC-Investiláser. Sabadell. Barcelona. Spain. ; Clínica Alcolea. Barcelona. Spain.
authors: Pa
authors: P
authors: Martínez-Carpio
authors: Clínica Alcolea. Barcelona. Spain.
authors: Jm
authors: J
authors: Alcolea-López
authors: Dermatology Department. Hospital Universitario del Mar. Barcelona. Spain.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vélez
keywords: acne vulgaris; actinic keratosis; basal cell carcinoma; methyl-aminolevulinate; photoaging; photodynamic therapy; photorejuvenation