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Light and Laser Modalities in the Treatment of Cutaneous Sarcoidosis: A Systematic Review
Ana Luiza Lima1, Steven Goetze, Tanja Illing
1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Str. 35, DE-07743 Jena, Germany. ana.lima@med.uni-jena.de.
Abstract:
Sarcoidosis is a systemic non-caseating granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology. Cutaneous manifestations are present in approximately 10-30% of the patients with the systemic form. Therapy is indicated in case of disabling symptoms, organ dysfunction or cosmetically distressing manifestation. Despite different therapeutic possibilities, cutaneous sarcoidosis remains exceptionally difficult to treat. Light and laser therapy may be a promising alternative. In this systematic review, we summarised the available treatments according to the literature concerning light and laser therapy for cutaneous sarcoidosis. Publications written in English and German, published between January 1990 and July 2016 in the database PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were analysed. Light therapy with intense pulsed light, photodynamic therapy, and ultraviolet A light therapy, as well as laser therapy with pulsed dye laser, YAG laser, and Q-switched ruby laser were described. The results are based on individual case reports and small case series. Randomised controlled studies are lacking.
Insights
Cutaneous sarcoidosis is challenging to treat, but light and laser therapies show promise. This review summarizes available treatments like intense pulsed light, photodynamic therapy, and various lasers for skin sarcoidosis.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Immunology
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease with variable cutaneous involvement.
- Cutaneous sarcoidosis affects 10-30% of patients and can be disfiguring or disabling.
- Effective treatments for cutaneous sarcoidosis are limited, necessitating exploration of novel therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the literature on light and laser therapies for cutaneous sarcoidosis.
- To summarize treatment modalities and outcomes reported for these advanced therapies.
- To identify potential therapeutic alternatives for difficult-to-treat skin sarcoidosis.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of English and German publications from January 1990 to July 2016.
- Searches conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases.
- Analysis of case reports and case series detailing light and laser treatments.
Main Results:
- Various light therapies including intense pulsed light, photodynamic therapy, and UVA therapy were described.
- Laser therapies such as pulsed dye laser, YAG laser, and Q-switched ruby laser were documented.
- Evidence is primarily based on individual case reports and small case series, lacking randomized controlled trials.
Conclusions:
- Light and laser therapies represent a potentially promising treatment avenue for cutaneous sarcoidosis.
- Further research, particularly randomized controlled trials, is needed to establish efficacy and safety.
- These modalities may offer alternatives for patients with refractory or cosmetically concerning skin sarcoidosis.
