Photodynamic Therapy of the Benign Viral VulvarLesions

Overview

Objective:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of the photodynamic effect in the treatmentof genital warts in women.Design: Prospective study.Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecolog, Hospital Na Bulovce, 1st Faculty of Medicine,Charles University, Prague.Methods: Twenty-five women with genital warts (HPV infection), which were verified by biopsy,were involved into the study. The affected area was treated by ten milligrams of the 5-aminolevulinicacid in three milliliters of gel for 8 hours. Red light with the 630 nanometers wavelength wasapplied for 15 minutes, with calculated energy intake 30 J/cm2.Results: All women were free of symptoms and had negative colposcopy in the followed period of 3to 12 months. On average 3.8 sessions were necessary to reach the remission. It was possible torepeat the session after two weeks time. During the application of light, 17 (68%) of the patientsfelt either no or slight burning sensation, 6 (24%) had unpleasant but bearable sensation and 2patients had to be treated in short intravenous anestesia.Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising modality in the treatment of HPV vulvarlesions and can be considered to be a method of choice.

Key words:
phototherapy, aminolevulinic acid, human papillomavirus, vulvar diseases