title: A retrospective analysis of the clinical efficacies of Q-switched Alexandrite and Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers in the treatment of nevus of Ota in Korean patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While the Q-switched Alexandrite laser (QSAL) and the Q-switched neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (QSNY) laser have been widely used in treating nevus of Ota, few studies compared them.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacies of the QSAL and the QSNY laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota in Korean patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective multicenter study was conducted in 76 patients with nevus of Ota. Thirty-one patients were treated with a QSAL (5.5-8.0 J/cm(2), 4-mm spot size) and 45 patients were treated with QSNY laser (6.0-12.0 J/cm(2), 2-mm spot size). Treatment outcomes were categorized into five grades and the results were compared with the relevant variables taken into account using multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QSAL treatment was more likely to achieve a better response compared with that with QSNY laser treatment. The odds ratio of achieving an excellent response, compared with the odds ratio of having a poor response, was 12.213-times more likely when a QSAL was used than when a QSNY laser was used (p = 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The QSAL tends to be more efficient than the QSNY laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota in Korean patients. Further controlled, prospective comparison studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Korea University , Seoul , Korea .
authors.forename: Jae Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joo Bong
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki Beom
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Bang Soon
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Un-Cheol
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Chang Hun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Jie Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009507:Nevus of Ota / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Nevus of Ota; Q-switched 1064-nm neodymium: yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser; Q-switched 755-nm Alexandrite laser