Clinical and histologic evaluation of psoriatic plaques treated with a flashlamp pulsed dye laser

Brian D. Zelickson, David A. Mehregan, Gwen Wendelschfer-Crabb, Dan Ruppman, Anne Cook, Polly O'Connell, William R. Kennedy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Psoriatic plaques can be cleared by destruction of the dermal papillae. Dilated vessels, the major component of psoriatic dermal papillae, can be selectively destroyed with yellow light lasers. Previous investigators have demonstrated partial clearing of psoriatic plaques after treatment with a pulsed dye laser (PDL) (585 nm).Objective: This study was designed to examine the clinical and histologic events of psoriasis treated with the PDL. Methods: Psoriatic plaques were treated with a short (450 μsec) and long (1500 μsec) pulse-width PDL. Photographs of the plaques were used for clinical assessment. Biopsy specimens were examined microscopically. Results: Significant clinical improvement was seen, and no significant difference between the long and short pulsewidth lasers was found. Patients responding to treatment with the PDL remained in remission for up to 13 months. Histologic normalization occurred after treatment. Two pretreatment vascular patterns were seen: vertically oriented vessels with few horizontal vessels and numerous tortuous vessels. Tortuous vessels were associated with poor clinical results. Conclusion: The PDL can induce prolonged remission in chronic plaque psoriasis. The vascular pattern may help to distinguish those patients likely to respond to this treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)64-68
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume35
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1996

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
From the Departments of Dermatology a and Neurology,b University of Minnesota Medical School, and Abbott Northwestern Hospital, In-stitute for Minimally Invasive Technology, c Minneapolis; and Pinkas Dermatopathology Laboratory, Mouroe. d Supported in part throug~aa grant by the Candela Laser Corp. Wayland, Mass. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 9, 1994. Reprint requests: Brian D. Zelickson, MD, Department of Dermatol-ogy, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware St., SE Minneapolis, MN 55455. Copyright © 1996 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. 0190-9622/96 $5.00 + 0 16/1/72049

Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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