title: The association of fractional CO2 laser 10.600nm and photodynamic therapy in the treatment of onychomycosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails caused in most cases by dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Despite numerous available antifungal drugs for therapy of this infection, the cure rate is low, with high rates of relapse after treatment and side effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a new option for the treatment of onychomycosis, in search of a more effective and rapid method than conventional ones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients underwent two sessions of CO2 fractional laser 10.600nm associated with photodynamic therapy. Mycological and digital photography were performed before and after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  McNemar test with continuity correction and degrees of freedom = 1: for clinical cure rate, 13.06, with p=0.00005; for mycological cure, 17.05, with p=0.00005; 72% felt fully satisfied with the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of fractional CO2 laser 10.600nm associated with photodynamic therapy can be effective in the treatment of onychomycosis, decreasing the risk of systemic lesions that may be triggered with prolonged use of oral antifungals.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Estadual de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Guilherme Bueno
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Estadual de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: João Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Antonio
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Estadual de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Antonio
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Estadual de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Fernanda Alves
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tomé
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000628:therapy*; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome