Photodynamic therapy of necrobiosis lipoidica--a multicenter study of 18 patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a granulomatous skin disease of unknown origin, and no reliably effective treatment option exists to handle this often disfiguring disease. Recently, a patient with long-lasting NL was reported to be cured by topical photodynamic therapy (PDT).

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the overall potential of PDT in the treatment of NL on the lower legs.

METHODS:

Retrospective study of 18 patients (aged 16-62 years) from 3 European university departments of dermatology treated with PDT for NL. Methyl aminolevulinate or 5-aminolevulinic acid were used as topically applied photosensitizers. Illumination followed with red light-emitting diode light.

RESULTS:

Complete response was seen in 1/18 patients after 9 PDT cycles, and partial response in 6/18 patients (2-14 PDT cycles) giving an overall response rate of 39% (7/18).

CONCLUSION:

Although almost 40% of the cases showed some degree of response, PDT cannot currently be recommended as first-line therapy of NL. Subpopulations of therapy-resistant NL patients may, however, benefit from PDT.

• Authors: C Berking, J Hegyi, P Arenberger, T Ruzicka, G B E Jemec
• Journal: Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (Dermatology) Vol. 218 Issue 2 Pg. 136-9 ( 2009) ISSN: 1421-9832 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 19060464 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Photosensitizing Agents
• methyl 5-aminolevulinate
• Aminolevulinic Acid

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aminolevulinic Acid (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Female
• Germany
• Humans
• Leg (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Necrobiosis Lipoidica (drug therapy, pathology)
• Photochemotherapy (methods)
• Photosensitizing Agents (administration & dosage)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome