Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025
Recurrent Herpetic Stromal Keratitis in Mice, a Model for Studying Human HSK
Published on: December 18, 2012
The application of photodynamic therapy in recurrent genital herpes
Jinyi Chen1, Yuancheng Li1, Dechao Li1
1Department of Dermatology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University(Third Military Medical University), No.10, Yangtze River Branch Road, Daping, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400042, China; Research Center for Skin Tissue Engineering of Chongqing Higher Education Institutions, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, China.
Background:
Frequently, recurrence of genital herpes imposes significant physical and psychological burdens on patients, and existing treatments are often ineffective in preventing recurrence. Previous studies have indicated that photodynamic therapy (PDT) showed promising outcomes in the treatment of labial herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections; however, its efficacy for genital herpes remained unclear.
Method:
The study screened patients with genital herpes at Daping Hospital from July 2020 to May 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they received PDT treatment. Over a one-year follow-up period, patients' healing time and recurrence rates were compared between the two groups. The cumulative incidence of recurrence and restricted mean survival time (RMST) were used to assess outcomes. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to minimize bias.
Result:
A total of 41 patients enrolled in our study, with 8 (19.5 %) received PDT. The non-PDT group exhibited a slower skin lesion healing time, averaging at 7.2 days compared to 5.4 days in the PDT group. A significant difference was observed in the cumulative incidence of recurrence between the PDT and non-PDT groups (37.5 % versus 71.4 %) after PSM. The RMST in the PDT group was 9.94 days, compared to 5.13 days in the non-PDT group before PSM, and 4.14 after PSM.
Conclusion:
Our study demonstrated that the PDT effectively reduced lesion recovery time and delayed recurrences of genital herpes. We recommend considering PDT as a potential treatment option for patients with recurrent genital herpes.
