Photodynamic therapy of vulvar lichen sclerosus with 5-aminolevulinic acid

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy after topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid produced statistically significant relief of symptoms of vulvar lichen sclerosus for an average of 6.1 months with minimal side effects.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lichen Sclerosus

“…The first results were published in 1999 [139] and are consistent with the results obtained by the subsequent studies [140–142]. Twelve women with genital LS underwent one to three cycles of 5-ALA PDT (5-aminolevulinic acid and argon dye laser).…”

“…Photodynamic therapy (PDT) seems to be a reasonably effective alternative therapeutic modality to treat LS resistant to conventional treatment, as shown by several case series [139–142]. The first results were published in 1999 [139] and are consistent with the results obtained by the subsequent studies [140–142].…”

“…Twelve women with genital LS underwent one to three cycles of 5-ALA PDT (5-aminolevulinic acid and argon dye laser). Ten of the twelve women experienced good symptomatic control of their disease after treatment, with alleviation of pruritus and pain sustained for 6 months [139]. Altogether, the studies showed no substantial influence on the objective clinical and histopathologic scores.…”

Photodynamic Diagnosis with 5–Aminolevulinic Acid in the Treatment of Secondary Urethral Tumors: First in vitro and in vivo Results

“…Its use in urology has just recently been extended to the upper urinary tract and kidney by oral intake of the sensitizer [14, 15]. Topical application including non–urological forms of application, such as for dermatology or gynecology [16, 17, 18, 19], was shown to be feasible and safe.…”

Psoralen–UVA treatment for generalized prepubertal extragenital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus

“…1,2 Other treatments that have been usedemainly for genital LSetAeinclude topical and oral retinoids, testosterone propionate 2.5%, topical estrogens 0.01%, topical progesterone 2%, photodynamic therapy, resorcinol, chloroquine, and vitamins, with variable results. [6][7][8] Treatment for extragenital LSetA is even more problematic. Besides potent topical corticosteroids, calcipotriol ointment 0.005% 9 has given good results in a single adult patient and complete resolution of extragenital LSetA has been reported after 4 sessions of pulsed dye laser therapy.…”