TREATMENT OF LEG TELANGIECTASIA USING A LONG-PULSE DYE-LASER AT 595 NM

Background and Objective: Pulsed dye lasers (PDL) operating at 585 nm wavelength and 0.45 msec pulsewidth offer effective treatment for port wine stains (PWS). Vessels in leg telangiectasias are larger than tho se in PWS. Longer pulsewidths and wavelengths may improve clearance of these larger vessels. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Twenty pati ents were treated using PDL at 595 nm and 1.5 msec. Vessel diameters r anging from 0.635 to 1.067 mm were treated using energy densities of 1 5 and 18 J/cm(2), and a 2 x 7 mm elliptical spot. Telangiectasia clear ance and complications were scored at 6-weeks and 5-months following t he single treatment. Results: Results demonstrated >50% clearance by 6 weeks in 11/26 (42.3%) patients using 15 J/cm(2), and 6/13 (45.2%) us ing 18 J/cm(2). By 5 months >50% clearance was noted in 18/34 (53.0%) using 15 J/cm(2), and 11/17 (64.7%) using 18 J/cm(2). Complications we re minor and infrequent. Conclusion: The long-pulse PDL may have a rol e in treating leg telangiectasias. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.