Comparing the efficacy of pulsed dye laser, Q-Switched Nd-YAG, CO2, and combined CO2 and Q-Switched Nd-YAG lasers for the treatment of cutaneous macular amyloidosis

Background: No topical and systemic treatment is proven to be effective on Cutaneous Macular Amyloidosis (CMA). The physical removal of the deposited protein by lasers may be a better choice. Objective: To compare the efficacy of different lasers including Pulsed dye laser (PDL), 1064 mode of Q-Switched Nd-YAG, CO2, and combined CO2 and Q-Switched Nd:YAG lasers for the treatment of CMA. Patients and Method: 17 adult female patients with clinical CMA and histopathological confirmation were included in this study. Four close 1 by 1 cm(2) areas were treated simultaneously with PDL, Q-Switched Nd-YAG, CO2 and combined CO2 and Nd-YAG Lasers. The energy used for 585 nm PDL were 9 J/cm(2) with the spot size of 5 mm. The energy used for 1064 nm mode of Nd-YAG laser was 5 Joules/cm(2), with the spot size of 4 mm, and the frequency of 10 hertz. The energies used for CO2 laser were 4 and 3.5 Micro Joules for the first and second Passes. Results: No desirable result obtained after PDL therapy. The Q-Switched Nd-YAG was effective in only 3 patients. All areas treated with CO2 laser were cleared. Conclusion: The CO2 laser is seems to be the most effective laser treatment of CMA.

Automated summary

This study compared the efficacy of different lasers for the treatment of Cutaneous Macular Amyloidosis (CMA) and found that CO2 laser was the most effective in clearing the affected areas.