Study: Combined pulsed-dye laser, radiofrequency effectively treats recalcitrant port wine stains

SAN FRANCISCO — Pulsed-dye laser combined with radiofrequency energy was effective in treating port wine stains that were resistant to pulsed-dye laser treatment alone, according to late-breaking research presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

“In a subset of patients with uniform lesions, we found that the degree of blanching of port wine stains [PWS] was greater with the combined radiofrequency [RF] plus pulsed-dye laser [PDL] than with pulsed-dye laser alone — the current gold-standard treatment,” researcher, Yoon-Soo Cindy Bae, MD, told Healio.com/Dermatology.

Bae and colleagues conducted an open-label, prospective, single-center study of 11 patients with recalcitrant PWS. The researchers used a novel device that combined PDL and RF energy for treating larger, deeper blood vessels.

Patients’ PWS were each divided into five treatments areas, which included PDL alone, RF alone, PDL followed by RF (PDL+RF), RF followed by PDL (RF+PDL) and untreated (control). There were a maximum of six treatments for each patient, scheduled 4 weeks to 6 weeks apart. Follow-up sessions were held at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after the final treatment.

The researchers performed colorimetry and standardized digital photography during all visits, with biopsies conducted only on selected patients.

Blinded review of digital photographs determined that the RF+PDL- and PDL+RF-treated areas of the PWS displayed the greatest improvements, which had statistical significance at 12 weeks follow-up compared with baseline (P<.05), according to Bae.

“Early treatment of PWS is imperative for improved treatment outcome and to prevent thickening and hypertrophy of these lesions, factors which make treating these birthmarks more challenging,” Bae said. “However, patients who have not received early treatment may benefit from this innovative combined therapy.” – by Bruce Thiel

Reference:

Bae YSC, et al. Paper #F037. Presented at: American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. March 20-24, 2015; San Francisco.

Disclosure: Bae reports no relevant financial disclosures.