Treatment of leg telangiectasia using a long-pulse dye laser at 595 nm

Background and Objective: Pulsed dye lasers (PDL) operating at 585 nm wavelength and 0.45 msec pulse width offer effective treatment for port wine stains (PWS). Vessels in leg telangiectasias are larger than those in PWS. Longer pulse widths and wavelengths may improve clearance of these larger vessels. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Twenty patients were treated using PDL at 595 nm and 1.5 msec. Vessel diameters ranging from 0.635 to 1.067 mm were treated using energy densities of 15 and 18 g/cm², and a 2 x 7 mm elliptical spot. Telangiectasia clearance and complications were scored at 6-weeks and 5-months following the single treatment. Results: Results demonstrated >50% clearance by 6 weeks in 11/26 (42.3%) patients using 15 J/cm², and 6/13 (45.2%) using 18 J/cm². By 5 months >50% clearance was noted in 18/34 (53.0%) using 15 g/cm², and 11/17 (64.7%) using 18 J/cm². Complications were minor and infrequent. Conclusion: The long-pulse PDL may have a role in treating leg telangiectasias.