Ablation of endometriotic implants in rabbits by hematoporphyrin derivative photoradiation therapy using the gold vapor laser

Abstract

In a rabbit model, endometriotic lesions were utilized to study hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) uptake and the effect of photoradiation using the gold vapor laser. Morphological studies confirmed successful induction of ectopic endometrial growth and the lesions displayed preferential HPD uptake compared to normal intraperitoneal structures. Gold vapor laser irradiation of the lesions in HPD pretreated animals produced necrosis of the endometriotic lesions leaving surrounding tissues healthy. Results from this study suggest that HPD-mediated photodynamic therapy may be a suitable means of treating endometriosis in the human.

Photodynamic destruction of endometrial tissue with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid in rats and rabbits

“…Subsequent studies revealed that 25% of the patients with non gynecologic malignancies had elevated serum CA 1251evels. 6 Only 1% of healthy blood donors 5 , 7 and 5% of patients with benign disease had elevated CA 125 serum levels (cutoff> 35 Vlml).' Nevertheless, more…”

Photodynamic therapy and its applications in gynaecology

“…Nearly all surgically induced animal models of endometriosis have used auto‐transplantation of uterine or endometrial patches to the peritoneal cavity. Such a model was used in rabbits 59,60 and rats 61 to investigate PDT destruction of endometriosis. Several studies using dihaematoporphyrin ether 59 , haematoporphyrin derivative 60 and ALA 61 have shown a high degree of destruction in endometrial transplants.…”

Tissue Effects of Lasers

“…Krypton, gold vapor, and tunable dye lasers are used for activation of hematoporphyrin derivatives in the palliative therapy of cancer and in animal models for treatment of endometriosis. 24 Excimer (excited dimer) lasers have a unique tissue effect with little thermal component. This lack of thermal heating may be useful when precision without hemostasis is important.…”