title: A controlled trial of photodynamic therapy of actinic keratosis comparing different red light sources.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) with red light is well established for actinic keratosis (AK). Differences have been observed concerning pain and efficacy rates with different red light sources.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare pain scores, short- and long-term efficacy rates of PDT of multiple AKs when employing different red light sources.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a controlled trial, 88 patients (310 AK lesions) received ALA-PDT in combination with either visible light (VIS) + water-filtered infrared A (wIRA) light (PhotoDyn(®) 750 (PD750), 580-1400 nm) for 30 min or incoherent light (Waldmann(®) 1200L (Wa1200L), 600-720 nm) for 10-11 min. Follow-up visits were performed after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. If there was no complete cure after 1, 3 or 6 months, a second cycle of PDT was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain scores were significantly lower in patients illuminated with PD750 rather than Wa1200L. Patient complete clearance rates were 85% and 91% after 1 month, 79% and 92% after 3 months, 97% and 92% after 6 months, and 69% and 85% after 12 months in the PD750 and Wa1200L groups, respectively. Lesion complete clearance rates were 94% and 92% after 1 month, 88% and 97% after 3 months, 96% and 95% after 6 months, and 81% and 89% after 12 months in the PD750 and Wa1200L group, respectively. The efficacy rates were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A VIS + wIRA light source produced considerably less pain, while efficacy was not much affected in contrast to previously published studies, probably because the illumination time was longer in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich Frauenlobstr. 9-11 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Giehl
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich Frauenlobstr. 9-11 80337 Munich, Germany, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Klinikum Augsburg, Stenglistr. 2, 86156 Augsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kriz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich Frauenlobstr. 9-11 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grahovac
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich Frauenlobstr. 9-11 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruzicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich Frauenlobstr. 9-11 80337 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berking
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid
keywords: ALA; actinic keratosis; broad-spectrum; controlled trial; photodynamic therapy; red light