Cutaneous leishmaniasis responds to daylight-activated photodynamic therapy: Proof of concept for a novel self-administered therapeutic modality

C. D. Enk*, A. Nasereddin, R. Alper, M. Dan-Goor, C. L. Jaffe, H. C. Wulf

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in Israel, with hundreds of new cases reported in recent years. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is highly effective for treatment of CL, but requires equipment available only at specialized centres. Daylight-activated PDT (DA-PDT) abolishes the need for artificial light sources and allows the patient to administer the treatment with no professional assistance. Objectives The objective of this single-centre, open study was to establish proof of concept for the efficacy of DA-PDT in the treatment of CL using clinical, microbiological and molecular clearance as outcome measures. Methods Thirty-one patients with CL (11 Leishmania major and 20 Leishmania tropica) underwent DA-PDT. Fourteen patients were treated in the hospital garden under professional supervision and 17 patients underwent DA-PDT as a self-administered treatment modality at home. Following application of a thick layer of 16% methyl aminolaevulinate and 30-min occlusion, the lesions were exposed to daylight for 2·5 h. Treatment sessions were repeated at weekly intervals until clinical and microbiological cure. Control lesions were either treated with cryotherapy or left untreated. Results The overall cure rate for DA-PDT was 89% (intention-to-treat cure rate 77%); this was 86% for the hospital-based treatment group and 92% for the self-administered group. Conclusions DA-PDT proved to be effective in the treatment of CL caused by L. major and L. tropica. More patients were treated according to a self-administered protocol, suggesting that DA-PDT can be adopted even in technologically deprived countries where the majority of Leishmania infections are encountered. What's already known about this topic? Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is effective for cutaneous leishmaniasis, but requires special equipment. Daylight-activated PDT abolishes the need for artificial light sources and has proven effective for the treatment of actinic keratoses. What does this study add? Daylight-activated PDT is effective against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by both Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica. Daylight-activated PDT is a self-administered regimen that can be performed without professional assistance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1364-1370
Number of pages7
JournalBritish Journal of Dermatology
Volume172
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 British Association of Dermatologists.

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