title: Randomized Vehicle-Controlled Study of Short Drug Incubation Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratoses of the Face or Scalp.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) can be effective and well tolerated when applied over a broad area and for short drug incubation times.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of short-incubation time and application method on the safety and efficacy of ALA-PDT versus vehicle (VEH-PDT) in the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) of the face or scalp.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aminolevulinic acid or VEH was applied to face or scalp as a broad area application for 1, 2, or 3 hours or as a spot application for 2 hours before blue light activation. An identical treatment was repeated at Week 8 if any AK lesions remained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median AK clearance rate for ALA-treated subjects ranged from 68% to 79% at Week 12, compared with 7% of the VEH-treated group (p < .0001). Complete clearance rate for ALA-treated subjects ranged from 17% (8/46) to 30% (14/47) at Week 12, compared with 2% (1/46) of the VEH-treated group (p = .0041). The safety profile seen in this study is consistent with previously reported side effects of the therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-incubation ALA-PDT was found to be superior to VEH-PDT for AK lesion clearance. A second treatment improves efficacy.
authors: *Department of Dermatology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Virginia Clinical Research, Inc., Norfolk, Virginia; †DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., A Sun Pharma Company, Wilmington, Massachusetts; ‡Therapeutics Inc., San Diego, California.
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Pariser
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Houlihan
authors: Mary Beth
authors: MB
authors: Ferdon
authors: James E
authors: JE
authors: Berg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid