Clinical comparison of potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) versus neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser treatment for lower extremity telangiectases.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The Nd:YAG laser has been considered the gold standard of treatment for leg veins, but pain and side effects have fueled physicians to use treatment alternatives.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the clinical efficacy of the long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser with KTP laser irradiation in the treatment of leg telangiectasia.

METHODS:

A series of 16 patients with size-matched superficial telangiectases of the lower extremities were randomly assigned to receive three consecutive monthly treatments with the long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG on one leg and 532-nm KTP laser irradiation on the other.

RESULTS:

For the 16 patients who completed the study, 64 leg vein sites were treated. Average clinical improvement scores were 1.94 and 1.25 for the KTP laser-treated leg and 3.38 and 3.50 for the Nd:YAG laser-treated leg with thin (≤ 1 mm) and large (1-3 mm) vessels, respectively. After the third treatment session, average improvement scores of 2.44, 1.31 and 3.75, 3.23 were given for the KTP and Nd:YAG laser-treated sides, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

Both the 1064-nm Nd:YAG and KTP lasers are effective in the treatment of lower extremity telangiectases. However, the KTP laser has very low efficacy with vessels larger than 1 mm and should not be elected when treating such vessels.

• Authors: Müge Güler Ozden, Muzaffer Bahçivan, Fatma Aydin, Nilgün Şentürk, Yüksel Bek, Tayyar Cantürk, Ahmet Yaşar Turanli
• Journal: The Journal of dermatological treatment (J Dermatolog Treat) Vol. 22 Issue 3 Pg. 162-6 (Jun 2011) ISSN: 1471-1753 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20666669 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Lasers, Solid-State (therapeutic use)
• Low-Level Light Therapy
• Lower Extremity
• Middle Aged
• Telangiectasis (pathology, radiotherapy)