CARLSBAD, CALIF. Combining photodynamic therapy using the photosensitizer verteporfin with pulsed dye laser therapy may be a way to treat port-wine stains, preliminary results from an ongoing study suggest.
The finding is important because early studies of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for port-wine stains resulted in significant scarring and severe photosensitivity for up to 30 days.
"Of course, that was a significant disadvantage," Dr. Kristen M. Kelly said at a symposium on laser and cosmetic surgery sponsored by SkinCare Physicians.
In the new approach, which was first reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser and Medicine and Surgery, Dr. Kelly and her associates treated four spots, each at 2 cm
For PDT, the subjects received IV verteporfin (Visudyne), a drug marketed by Novartis Ophthalmics Inc. that binds with low-density lipoprotein and is approved for treatment of age-related macular degeneration, pathologic myopia, and presumed ocular histoplasmosis. It causes photosensitivity for 25 days. The doses were 6 mg/m
This was followed by treatment with a 576-nm continuous-wave argon-pumped rhodamine dye laser.
The patients were followed at 3 days and at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks.
So far, researchers have treated 10 sets of sites on seven patients, with a light dose of 1575 J/cm
One patient treated at 45 J/cm
"As we increase the dose [of the laser beam] we'll learn more about the potential of this treatment," she said.
The researchers received donations of verteporfin from QLT Inc., which developed the drug in conjunction with Novartis Ophthalmics. Dr. Kelly disclosed receiving research grants from 3M, Candela Corp., Reliant Pharmaceuticals LLC, and Thermage Inc. The surgery laser clinic where she works received equipment loans from Candela, Iridex Corp., and Reliant.
Posttreatment purpura is noted after PDT + PDL. Courtesy Dr. Kristen M. Kelly