Treatment of recalcitrant viral warts with pulsed dye laser MAL-PDT

• Published in: The Journal of dermatological treatment Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 226 - 228
• Main Authors: Fernández-Guarino, Montserrat, Harto, Antonio, Jaén, Pedro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oslo Informa Healthcare USA on behalf of Informa UK Ltd 01.08.2011; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Aminolevulinic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Aminolevulinic Acid - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the skin. Cosmetics; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Lasers, Dye - therapeutic use; Medical sciences; Photochemotherapy; photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; pulsed dye laser; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; viral warts; Warts - drug therapy; Warts - virology; Human; Skin disease; Photodynamic therapy; Wart; Infection; Dye laser; Treatment; Pulsed laser; Viral disease; Methyl aminolevulinate; Photosensitizer; viral warts; pulsed dye laser
• ISSN: 0954-6634; 1471-1753
• DOI: 10.3109/09546631003681078

Abstract Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been explored for the treatment of recalcitrant viral warts (VW) with good results in recent publications. Methods: We carried out a descriptive and observational study in 19 patients with recalcitrant VW. Methyl aminolaevulinic acid (MAL) was occluded for 3 hours and pulsed dye laser (PDL) was used as the light source. VW were treated weekly until they were clear or for a maximum of six sessions. Results: A total of 53% of the VW cleared, and 26% of the patients demonstrated complete clearance of all their VW. The treatment was well tolerated and no adverse events were recorded. Conclusions: PDL-PDT is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for patients with recalcitrant VW. Though only half of patients show any improvement, responders are likely to show complete clearance of their warts.