Aminolevulinic acid: pharmacological profile and clinical indication

The role of aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride (ALA) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of in situ neoplasias and tumours of epithelial tumours is steadily increasing and it has been shown to be the drug with most clinical use in P DT. In dermatology, topical PDT with ALA is already postulated to be the tr eatment of choice for actinic keratoses and superficial basal cell carcinom as. in gastroenterology, pulmonology, uro- and nephrology, neurology and gy naecology ALA has an important role as a photosensitiser not only in the di agnosis of neoplastic tissue but as therapy; first experiences have been ma de with PDT in these organs. Besides the therapeutic efficacy of this techn ique, the fluorescence of ALA-induced porphyrins can be effectively used to detect and delineate epithelial and endothelial neoplasms. In dermatology, other indications for ALA-treatment are non-tumoural applications, especia lly psoriasis, viral-induced diseases, or acne vulgaris. ALA is an effectiv e compound in the diagnosis or therapy of various epithelial and endothelia l neoplastic lesions.