@article{cb3041d0747411df928f000ea68e967b,
title = "Photodynamic therapy of necrobiosis lipoidica--a multicenter study of 18 patients",
abstract = "BACKGROUND: Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a granulomatous skin disease of unknown origin, and no reliably effective treatment option exists to handle this often disfiguring disease. Recently, a patient with long-lasting NL was reported to be cured by topical photodynamic therapy (PDT). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the overall potential of PDT in the treatment of NL on the lower legs. METHODS: Retrospective study of 18 patients (aged 16-62 years) from 3 European university departments of dermatology treated with PDT for NL. Methyl aminolevulinate or 5-aminolevulinic acid were used as topically applied photosensitizers. Illumination followed with red light-emitting diode light. RESULTS: Complete response was seen in 1/18 patients after 9 PDT cycles, and partial response in 6/18 patients (2-14 PDT cycles) giving an overall response rate of 39% (7/18). CONCLUSION: Although almost 40% of the cases showed some degree of response, PDT cannot currently be recommended as first-line therapy of NL. Subpopulations of therapy-resistant NL patients may, however, benefit from PDT.",
author = "C Berking and J Hegyi and P Arenberger and T Ruzicka and Jemec, {G B E}",
note = "Keywords: Administration, Cutaneous; Adolescent; Adult; Aminolevulinic Acid; Czech Republic; Denmark; Female; Germany; Humans; Leg; Male; Middle Aged; Necrobiosis Lipoidica; Photochemotherapy; Photosensitizing Agents; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome",
year = "2008",
doi = "10.1159/000182259",
language = "English",
volume = "218",
pages = "136--9",
journal = "Dermatology",
issn = "1018-8665",
publisher = "S Karger AG",
number = "2",
}