A retrospective analysis of the clinical efficacies of Q-switched Alexandrite and Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers in the treatment of nevus of Ota in Korean patients

Background: While the Q-switched Alexandrite laser (QSAL) and the Q-switched neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet (QSNY) laser have been widely used in treating nevus of Ota, few studies compared them. Objective: To compare the efficacies of the QSAL and the QSNY laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota in Korean patients. Methods and materials: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted in 76 patients with nevus of Ota. Thirty-one patients were treated with a QSAL (5.5-8.0 J/cm(2), 4-mm spot size) and 45 patients were treated with QSNY laser (6.0-12.0 J/cm(2), 2-mm spot size). Treatment outcomes were categorized into five grades and the results were compared with the relevant variables taken into account using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: QSAL treatment was more likely to achieve a better response compared with that with QSNY laser treatment. The odds ratio of achieving an excellent response, compared with the odds ratio of having a poor response, was 12.213-times more likely when a QSAL was used than when a QSNY laser was used (p = 0.026). Conclusion: The QSAL tends to be more efficient than the QSNY laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota in Korean patients. Further controlled, prospective comparison studies are needed.