TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of the timing of treatment of port-wine stains with the flash-lamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser
AU - van der Horst, C. M.
AU - Koster, P. H.
AU - de Borgie, C. A.
AU - Bossuyt, P. M.
AU - van Gemert, M. J.
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - BACKGROUND: Port-wine stains can be treated with a flash-lamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser, but it is uncertain whether this treatment is more effective if administered early in life, when the skin is thinner and the lesion is smaller. METHODS: We prospectively studied 100 patients with a previously untreated port-wine stain of the head or neck. They were treated with the flash-lamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser and divided into four age groups (0 to 5, 6 to 11, 12 to 17, and 18 to 31 years). The outcome measure was lightening of the port-wine stain (reduction in the difference in color between the skin with the stain and contralateral healthy skin) as measured with a colorimeter after an average of five treatments (range, three to seven) of the entire lesion. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, 11 could not be included in the analysis because they had received fewer than three or more than seven treatments, had an erroneous base-line color measurement, or were lost to follow-up. The sizes, locations, and colors of the port-wine stains were similar among the groups. When all 89 patients were analyzed together, the average reduction in the difference in color between the skin with the port-wine stain and contralateral healthy skin was 40 percent. The differences between age groups in the average reduction in color differences were not significant (P= 0.26). By the end of the study, only 7 of 89 patients had completed laser therapy, and in no case was clearance complete. Treatment was discontinued in all seven because the last three treatments did not lead to further lightening. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that treatment of port-wine stains with the flash-lamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser in early childhood is more effective than treatment at a later age
AB - BACKGROUND: Port-wine stains can be treated with a flash-lamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser, but it is uncertain whether this treatment is more effective if administered early in life, when the skin is thinner and the lesion is smaller. METHODS: We prospectively studied 100 patients with a previously untreated port-wine stain of the head or neck. They were treated with the flash-lamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser and divided into four age groups (0 to 5, 6 to 11, 12 to 17, and 18 to 31 years). The outcome measure was lightening of the port-wine stain (reduction in the difference in color between the skin with the stain and contralateral healthy skin) as measured with a colorimeter after an average of five treatments (range, three to seven) of the entire lesion. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, 11 could not be included in the analysis because they had received fewer than three or more than seven treatments, had an erroneous base-line color measurement, or were lost to follow-up. The sizes, locations, and colors of the port-wine stains were similar among the groups. When all 89 patients were analyzed together, the average reduction in the difference in color between the skin with the port-wine stain and contralateral healthy skin was 40 percent. The differences between age groups in the average reduction in color differences were not significant (P= 0.26). By the end of the study, only 7 of 89 patients had completed laser therapy, and in no case was clearance complete. Treatment was discontinued in all seven because the last three treatments did not lead to further lightening. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that treatment of port-wine stains with the flash-lamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser in early childhood is more effective than treatment at a later age
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199804093381504
DO - https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199804093381504
M3 - Article
C2 - 9535667
SN - 0028-4793
VL - 338
SP - 1028
EP - 1033
JO - New England journal of medicine
JF - New England journal of medicine
IS - 15
ER -