Clinical analysis of port-wine stain in 130 Chinese patients treated by long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd: YAG laser

Abstract

Background: The long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd: YAG laser is effective for treating port-wine stain (PWS). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Nd: YAG laser in treating PWS in Chinese patients. Methods: A retrospective study of 130 PWS patients treated with long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd: YAG laser from 2009 to 2011. Results: After treatment, 2, 15, 64, and 19 percent of patients experienced < 25%, 25–49%, 50–75%, and > 75% lesion clearance, respectively. Purple lesions showed more significant improvement than pink lesions. The initial response was blistering, dark gray coloration, or light gray coloration, the best improvement occurred in 100% (27/27), 82.5% (52/63), and 72.5% (29/40), respectively. Patients older than 20 years showed the best improvement (37/38, 97.4%), followed by those 10–20 years old (20/24, 83.3%), 1–9 years old (23/29, 79.3%) and less than 1 year old (28/39, 71.8%). Patients with neck lesions had the best outcome (47/48, 97.9%), followed by those with lesions on the face (43/53, 81.2%), extremities (13/18, 72.2%), and trunk (5/11, 45.5%). The common adverse side effects were blistering and pigment changes. Conclusions: 1064-nm Nd: YAG laser is effective and safe for the treatment of PWS. The efficacy is affected by the age of the patient, the color and location of the lesions, and immediate responses to the laser.

Key Words::

• 1064-nm Nd: YAG laser
• port-wine stain
• nevus flammeus
• birthmark
• laser therapeutic efficacy
• influencing factor

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

All authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none were reported.