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Updated: Mar 2, 2026
An In Vitro Approach to Photodynamic Therapy
Published on: August 17, 2018
Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus
Agnieszka Maździarz1, Beata Osuch1, Magdalena Kowalska1
1Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, Roentgena Street 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland.
Background:
Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a chronic and incurable disease that causes various unpleasant symptoms and serious consequences.
Objective:
The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus.
Methods:
Participants in the study included 102 female patients aged 19-85 suffer from vulvar lichen sclerosus. The patients underwent photodynamic therapy (PDT). In the course of PDT the 5% 5- aminolevulinic acid was used in gel form. The affected areas were irradiated with a halogenic lamp PhotoDyn 501 (590-760nm) during a 10-min radiation treatment. The treatment was repeated weekly for 10 weeks.
Result:
PDT has brought about a good therapeutic effect (complete or partial clinical remission), with 87.25% improvement rate in patients suffering from lichen sclerosus. The greatest vulvoscopic response was observed in the reduction of subepithelial ecchymoses and teleangiectasia (78.95%), and the reduction of erosions and fissures (70.97%). A partial remission of lichenification with hyperkeratosis was observed in 51.61% of cases. The least response was observed in the atrophic lesions reduction (improvement in 37.36% of cases).
Conclusion:
Our patients suffering from vulvar lichen sclerosus demonstrated positive responses to photodynamic therapy and the treatment was well tolerated. Photodynamic therapy used to treat lichen sclerosus yields excellent cosmetic results.
