Photodynamic therapy of benign viral vulvar lesions

Abstract The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of the photodynamic effect in the treatment of genital warts in women. Prospective study. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Na Bulovce, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague. Twenty-five women with genital warts (HPV infection), which were verified by biopsy, were involved into the study. The affected area was treated by ten milligrams of the 5-aminolevulinic acid in three milliliters of gel for 8 hours. Red light with the 630 nanometers wavelength was applied for 15 minutes, with calculated energy intake 30 J/cm2. All women were free of symptoms and had negative colposcopy in the followed period of 3 to 12 months. On average 3.8 sessions were necessary to reach the remission. It was possible to repeat the session after two weeks time. During the application of light, 17 (68%) of the patients felt either no or slight burning sensation, 6 (24%) had unpleasant but bearable sensation and 2 patients had to be treated in short intravenous anesthesia. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising modality in the treatment of HPV vulvar lesions and can be considered to be a method of choice.