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Efficacy of Ablative Fractional Laser-assisted Photodynamic Therapy According to the Laser Density for Actinic Keratosis

A Comparison of the Efficacy of Ablative Fractional Laser-assisted Photodynamic Therapy According to the Density of Ablative Laser Channel in the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03731988
Enrollment
47
Registered
2018-11-06
Start date
2017-02-01
Completion date
2018-10-24
Last updated
2018-11-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Actinic Keratosis

Keywords

actinic keratosis, ablative fractional laser, photodynamic therapy, ablative density, protoporphyrin IX

Brief summary

Erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) ablative fractional laser-assisted photodynamic therapy (AFL-PDT) has shown significant benefit for the treatment of actinic keratosis(AK). Er:YAG ablative fractional laser ablates the epidermis and dermis without significant thermal injury, creating microscopic ablation zones (MAZ) in the portion of the skin that the laser is applied to. The formed MAZ depends on the laser parameters such as laser depth, laser density and laser passes, which affect the treatment outcome.

Detailed description

This study evaluated whether different laser densities influenced the efficacy, side effects, cosmetic outcomes, and protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) accumulation of AFL-PDT for facial AK in a randomized clinical trial.

Interventions

For AFL pre-treatment, lidocaine/prilocaine (5%) cream (EMLA; Astra Pharmaceuticals, LP, Westborough, MA, USA) was applied to the treatment area under occlusion for 30 min

After the anaesthetic cream was removed, AFL therapy was performed using a 2940-nm Er:YAG AFL (Joule; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at 5.5% or 11% or 22% laser density with 350 µm ablation depth, level 1 coagulation and a single pulse

Immediately after AFL treatment, an approximately 1- mm-thick layer of MAL (Metvix, PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) was applied to the lesion and on 5 mm of surrounding normal tissue. Incubation time is 3 hours

After 3 hours of application with MAL, saline wash was performed and fluorescence imaging analysis was performed with ultraviolet examination light (model 31602,356 nm; Burton Medical Products Crop.) at 10 cm height above the base of each lesion. The red fluorescence (610 nm-700 nm) was separated and extracted by Matlab program and then used to measure the amount of 633 nm fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX.

After incubation for 3 hours, the dressing and cream were removed, and the area was cleansed with saline. The area was irradiated with a red light-emitting diode lamp (Aktilite CL 128; PhotoCure ASA, Oslo, Norway) with peak emission at 632 nm, placed 5 cm away from the skin surface, and a total light dose of 37 J/cm-2. All patients wore protective goggles during illumination.

Sponsors

Dong-A University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Korean patients aged ≥ 18 years who had biopsy-confirmed Actinic keratosis lesions

Exclusion criteria

* photosensitivity disorder patients * Lactating or pregnant women * Patients with porphyria or a known allergy to any of the constituents of the MAL cream and lidocaine * Patients with systemic disease, history of malignant melanoma, tendency of melasma development or keloid formation, any AK treatment of the area in the previous 4 weeks, or any conditions associated with a risk of poor protocol compliance; and patients on immunosuppressive treatment

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Differences of short-term complete response rates between 3 groupsShort-term complete response rates were evaluated at 3 months after treatmentLesion responses were classified as either a complete response (complete disappearance of the lesion) or a noncomplete response (incomplete disappearance)
Differences of long-term complete response rates between 3 groupsLong-term complete response rates were evaluated at 12 monthsIn all cases of complete response, the patients were reviewed at 12 months to check for recurrence. Recurrence was assessed by inspection, dermoscopy, photography, palpation, and histologic findings. For the histopathologic evaluation of treatment response, at the 12-month follow-up visit, a 3-mm punch biopsy of the treated AK lesion was performed in all cases of clinically incomplete response.
Difference of the recurrence rates between 3 groupsRecurrence rates were evaluated respectively at 12 months after treatmentIn all cases of complete response, the patients were reviewed at 12 months to check for recurrence. Recurrence was assessed by inspection, dermoscopy, photography, palpation, and histologic findings. For the histopathologic evaluation of treatment response, at the 12-month follow-up visit, a 3-mm punch biopsy of the treated AK lesion was performed in all cases of clinically incomplete response.
Differences of the fluorescence intensity between 3 groupsAfter 3 hours of application with MAL, fluorescence intensity imaging was assessed 10 minutes before illumination.After 3 hours of application with methyl aminolevulinate(MAL), Fluorescence imaging analysis was performed on treatment area with ultraviolet examination light (model 31602,356 nm; Burton Medical Products Crop.) at 10 cm height above the base of each lesion. The red fluorescence was separated and extracted by Matlab program and then used to measure the amount of 633 nm fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Differences of cosmetic outcomes between 3 groupsThe overall cosmetic outcome was assessed 12 months after treatmentCosmetic outcomes were graded as excellent (slight redness or pigmentation change), good (moderate redness or pigmentation change), fair (slight-to-moderate scarring, atrophy, or induration), or poor (extensive scarring, atrophy, or induration)
Difference of adverse events (erythema, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, edema, itching, oozing, bleeding) rates between 3 groupsWithin 12 months after each treatmentAdverse events reported by the patient were noted at each follow-up visit, including severity, duration and need for additional therapy. All events due to PDT were described as phototoxic reactions (i.e., erythema, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, oedema, itching, oozing, bleeding and so forth).

Countries

South Korea

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026