Combination of LED illumination and daylight photodynamic therapy for the treatment of actinic keratosis in solid organ transplant recipients: a prospective, randomized, comparative, intra-patient study.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Solid organ transplant recipients have an increased risk of developing actinic keratosis. Recent studies show greater effectiveness when combining daylight photodynamic therapy with a posterior LED illumination for their treatment in immunocompetent patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of combining daylight photodynamic therapy and LED illumination versus daylight photodynamic therapy alone for the treatment of actinic keratosis in solid organ transplant recipients.

Patients and methods: This randomized intra-patient study was conducted at University of Navarra Clinic. Solid organ transplant recipients with two 25 cm² areas on the face or scalp with at least four actinic keratosis, were included. After receiving daylight photodynamic therapy in both areas, one of them was randomized to receive complementary LED illumination. The primary endpoint was the reduction of the baseline actinic keratosis at 3 months post-treatment.

Results: Thirteen patients with a total of 169 AKs were recruited. At 12 weeks post-treatment, the area treated with daylight and conventional photodynamic therapy showed a greater reduction in actinic keratoses (79.55% vs. 65.43%, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Our results suggest greater effectiveness of combining daylight photodynamic therapy with LED illumination compared to daylight photodynamic therapy alone for the treatment of actinic keratosis in solid organ transplant recipients.