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An In Vitro Approach to Photodynamic Therapy
Published on: August 17, 2018
Experience with photodynamic therapy in Hailey-Hailey disease
Montse Fernández Guarino1, Ainhoa Marquet Ryan, Antonio Harto
1Dermatology Department, Ramon y Cajal Universitary Hospital, Alcalá de Henares University, Madrid, Spain. montsefdez@msn.com
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment
|July 9, 2008
Summary
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) showed limited success. While one patient improved, most experienced discomfort, indicating PDT is still experimental for HHD treatment.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Photomedicine
Background:
- Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) is a rare, chronic, and often treatment-resistant genodermatosis.
- Current therapeutic options for HHD are limited, necessitating exploration of novel treatment modalities.
Observation:
- Three patients diagnosed with HHD underwent a single session of photodynamic therapy (PDT).
- PDT involved topical methyl aminolevulinic acid under occlusion for 3 hours, followed by red light irradiation (37 J/cm2 for 7.5 minutes).
Findings:
- The study reported limited success, with only one of three patients experiencing clinical improvement.
- All patients reported discomfort lasting 3-4 weeks post-PDT, and none opted for repeat treatment.
- These outcomes suggest photodynamic therapy is not yet a reliably effective treatment for HHD.
Implications:
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is currently in an exploratory phase for treating Hailey-Hailey disease.
- Further research is required to optimize PDT protocols and assess its long-term efficacy and safety in HHD management.
- The findings highlight the need for alternative or refined therapeutic strategies for this challenging genodermatosis.
