Photodynamic therapy with delta-aminolevulinic acid and light-emitting diodes in actinic keratosis

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy is a form of treatment in which a photosensitizing substance is applied to tissue and activated by a light source at a specific wavelength, thus selectively destroying cells. New light sources are being evaluated for use in the treatment of actinic keratoses. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy with delta-aminolevulinic acid using a light emitting diode device as a light source in the treatment of actinic keratoses of the face and upper limbs. METHODS: Eighteen patients with actinic keratoses of the face or upper limbs received an application of a 20% delta-aminolevulinic acid cream and were submitted to diode light irradiation at a wavelength of 630 nm. RESULTS: A total of 328 actinic keratoses were treated, obtaining complete cure in 210 (64.0%) after 24 weeks. Lesions situated on the back of the hands were clinically cured in 49.2% of cases compared to 81.4% in the cases of lesions in other areas. There was no record of any severe adverse effects and patient satisfaction with the results was high. CONCLUSION: Photodynamic therapy with a diode light emitting source proved effective and well-tolerated for the treatment of actinic keratoses, with results similar to those reported in the literature with other light sources.