CHANGES OF SKIN PERFUSION AFTER PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR PORT-WINE STAIN

Objective To obtain an objective assessment of the curative effectiven ess of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for port wine stain (PWS), we invest igate the relationship between the microvascular perfusion changes of PWS and the blanching of the lesions before and after PDT. Methods Twe nty-four patients (18 females and 6 males with a total of 38 lesions) suffering from PWS were treated with PDT. The lesions of various exten ts were located on the face and neck. After intravenous injection of p hotosensitizer hepatoporphyrin derivative (HpD), the copper vapor lase r was adopted as light source and the lesions of PWS were irradiated. The laser Doppler perfusion imager (LDI) was used to measure the micro circulatory perfusion of PWS before and after PDT and comparison with the normal skin was done. Results All the lesions showed remarkable de crease of tissue perfusion after PDT. It was shown that the mean, maxi mal and minimal values of tissue perfusion in the pre-treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01). Six mo nths after PDT, the mean, maximal and minimal values of perfusion with the lesions were reduced, with significant difference from pre-treatm ent group (P < 0.01), but no significant difference from control's. Th e colors of lesions were correlated with decrease of microcirculatory perfusion, which became lightened close to normal skin color without c ausing any scarring.Conclusions PDT is one of the most effective modal ities for PWS. The microcirculation perfusion can reflect the degrees of PWS objectively. The curative effectiveness of PDT for PWS is due t o tissue microcirculation response.