Objectives: GENERAL OBJECTIVE:
To determine the efficacy of combined ablative fractionated laser and 5FU treatment as a single or adjunct therapeutic option for inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions present in the genital area.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY:
1.To describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. 2.To assess the effectiveness of treatment using ablative fractionated laser combined with 5FU by analyzing improvements in clinical characteristics, and histopathological aspects. 3.To evaluate the impact on patients' quality of life using the DLQI scale.
Introduction: Inflammatory and non-inflammatory diseases affecting the genital area can have a
significant impact on patients' quality of life and intimate relationships. Despite being
common in dermatology outpatient clinics, these conditions are still considered taboo within
the field of dermatology. There is a lack of literature describing the clinical and pathological
correlation of these diseases, along with limited treatment options available.
Surgery is considered the gold standard treatment for the sequelae of these diseases;
however, it is invasive and can negatively affect patients' self-esteem. A
Materials / method: A quasi-experimental, open-label, pre-and-post, single-center, non-randomized study was conducted using a convenience sample of patients from the hospital outpatient clinic. Patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria and expressing willingness to participate were enrolled between September 2023 and October 2023
Inclusion Criteria:
Age over 18 years
Lesions located in the genital area
Clinically and histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of LSIL, LS, BP
Exclusion Criteria
Nonspecific initial biopsy
Previous laser treatment for the same condition
Previous treatments 30 days prior
Results: SYMPTOMS: At the beginning of the study, 84.6% of patients (n = 11) reported itching, and 61.50% (n = 8) reported burning. However, by the end of the study, only one patient continued to experience mild itching, indicating substantial improvement in symptoms for the majority of participants.
HISTOPATHOLOGY
The presence of acanthosis, dermal fibrosis, increased fibroblasts in the papillary and reticular dermis, as well as decreased skin hyalinization, epidermal atrophy, and inflammatory infiltrate indicate a consistent and beneficial therapeutic response.
Conclusion: CONCLUSIONS
The 2940 nm fractional ablative laser + 5-fluorouracil has shown to be an effective alternative in the treatment of genital lesions, including lichen sclerosus, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and Bowenoid papulosis. The treatment contributed to the improvement of symptoms and clinical signs, such as color, brightness, thickness, and extension, although it did not show efficacy in managing extensive LS adhesions
The most common findings after intervention were changes in dermoscopy and histopathology in all study patients. These changes indicate a positive response.
Disclosures
Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
No
Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No
Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
No
Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No
This work was not supported by any direct or non direct funding. It is under the author's own responsability