title: Therapeutic effects of 5-ALA-induced photodynamic therapy in vulvar lichen sclerosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a rarely diagnosed, chronic inflammatory skin and mucosal condition. Its therapy is difficult and frequently not satisfactory. The data on photodynamic therapy (PDT) of vulva are promising but scanty. The aim of our study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of photodynamic therapy in genital LS in women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with clinical and histopathological diagnosis of lichen sclerosus accompanied with chronic vulvar itching, lasting between 3 months and 11 years, with human papillomavirus (HPV), bacterial and mycotic infections excluded, received three to six PDT cycles (180J, 700mW/cm(2)) in 14 days long intervals. Simultaneously they received no topical corticosteroids. Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) was conducted prior to therapy and 4 weeks after its completion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 17 patients, the itching ceased completely, in 6 women it decreased, in 1 patient the itching continued, none of the patients presented exacerbation of itching. PDD after completion of therapy revealed in 10 patients normal, green fluorescence of vulva and in 14 women pathological, red fluorescence, usually fainter than before PDT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT is an effective therapeutic modality for chronic itching in lichen sclerosus.
authors.affiliation: Chair and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Silesian Medical University, ul. Batorego 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Biniszkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Chair and Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Silesian Medical University, ul. Batorego 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olejek
authors.affiliation: Chair and Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Silesian Medical University, ul. Batorego 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kozak-Darmas
authors.affiliation: Chair and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Angiology and Physical Medicine, Silesian Medical University, ul. Batorego 15, 41-902 Bytom, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sieroń