Prospective study of port wine stain treatment with dye laser: Comparison of two wavelengths (585 nm vs. 595 nm) and two pulse durations (0.5 milliseconds vs. 20 milliseconds)
Authors: Greve Baerbel , Raulin Christian 
Published: February 2004

Background and Objectives

The conventional pulsed‐dye laser (wavelength 585 nm, pulse duration 0.5 milliseconds) is seen as the standard treatment for port wine stains (PWS). Using the pulsed‐dye laser at wavelengths of 590, 595, and 600 nm and at varying pulse durations of 1.5–40 milliseconds is one of the newest developments in the field, the therapeutic value of which has been examined in only a few studies. Treatment of PWS with short‐ and long‐pulse dye lasers. Comparison of two wavelengths (585 nm vs. 595 nm) and two pulse durations (0.5 milliseconds vs. 20 milliseconds).

Study Design/Materials and Methods

Fifteen patients with untreated PWS were included in a randomized prospective study with three different laser settings. Patients underwent one treatment session. The following treatment parameters were chosen at a uniform spot size of 7 mm: (1) 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds/5.5 J/cm2, (2) 595 nm/0.5 milliseconds/5.5 J/cm2, and (3) 595 nm/20 milliseconds/13 J/cm2. The clearance as well as side effects was evaluated. All treatments were performed with cold air‐cooling. Follow‐up took place immediately, 2 days and 4 weeks after the treatment. The PWS was assigned a clearance score (CS) from 1 to 4 (1 = poor to 4 = excellent).

Results

Descriptively, 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds generated the best average CS of 2.7, followed by 595 nm/20 milliseconds (2.5) and 595 nm/0.5 milliseconds (1.6)); statistically, there is no difference between the CS of 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds and 595 nm/20 milliseconds. The best lightening rates overall were achieved in purple PWS (CS = 3.5) versus red (CS = 2.5) and pink (CS = 2.0). Purple PWS responded best to 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds; red and pink PWS yielded similar results with 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds and 595 nm/20 milliseconds. The setting, 595 nm/0.5 milliseconds was clearly not as effective as the other laser settings. Purpura, pain, and crusting were most commonly reported after treatments with 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds (93%/93%/33%), closely followed by treatments at 595 nm/20 milliseconds (86%/93%/20%). The settings 595 nm/0.5 milliseconds yielded the lowest rate of adverse effects (67%/60%/0%). Hypopigmentation only occurred in one case (585 nm/0.5 milliseconds), and there were no reports of hyperpigmentation or scarring.

Conclusions

With respect to treating PWS, the conventional pulsed‐dye laser set to 585 nm/0.5 milliseconds yields a significantly greater clearance rate than it does at a setting of 595 nm (with the same pulse duration, fluence, and spot size), although the former also entails the highest spectrum of adverse effects. In this study, purple PWS treated at these parameters showed the best results. In dealing with pink PWS, the results were similar to those of the conventional pulsed‐dye laser when the pulse duration was increased to 20 milliseconds and fluence was increased. As a rule, the clearance rate corresponded to the extent of the postoperative purpura. Lasers Surg. Med. 34:168–173, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.