Topical photodynamic therapy of actinic keratoses with 5-aminolevulinic acid: Randomized controlled trial with six months follow-up

Abstract

Background: Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective treatment for actinic keratosis (AK) with some transient adverse events.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of two different light doses when treating AKs with ALA-PDT on the face/scalp.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with two histologically confirmed AKs were enrolled in the within-patient comparison study. ALA-PDT was performed twice with two weeks interval for each AK. Patients were randomized to receive a light dose of 70 or 100 J/cm² as their first split face/scalp treatment. Follow-up examinations were carried out at months 3 and 6. Efficacy end point included clinical/histological AK clearance rate.

Results: No significant difference in therapeutic efficacy and adverse events of ALA-PDT was found between the two light doses at both follow-up visits. At months 3 and 6 after PDT the rate of complete remission were respectively 100% and 92.1% for 70 J/cm², 92.1% and 84.2% for 100 J/cm². The adverse events of the treatment were rosacea 5/76 (6.58%), hyperpigmentation 4/76 (5.26%), hypopigmentation 4/76 (5.26%), transient milia 3/76 (3.95%).

Conclusions: The topical ALA-PDT with the red light dose of 70 J/cm² is an effective treatment for mild and moderate AKs on the face/scalp with expected adverse events of pigmentation changes, rosacea and transient milia.

• 5-aminolevulinic acid
• actinic keratosis
• photodynamic therapy

Acknowledgements

We thank our patients for their cooperation. The authors also acknowledge colleagues who have contributed in different aspects of this study: Daiva Jasaitiene, Vesta Kucinskiene, Jurgita Makstiene, Arunas Petkevicius, Raimundas Razukevicius, Daiva Grazina Samuleniene and Ruta Paulina Zarankiene.