Increased cutaneous oxygen availability by topical application of hydrogen peroxide cream enhances the photodynamic reaction to topical 5-aminolevulinic acid-methyl ester

• Published in: ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH Vol. 303; no. 4; pp. 285 - 292
• Main Authors: Manifold, R. N., Anderson, C. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-05-2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 5-Aminolevulinic acid; Administration, Topical; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aminolevulinic Acid - administration & dosage; Aminolevulinic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Aminolevulinic Acid - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular system; Dermatology; Erythema - drug therapy; Erythema - metabolism; Female; Human skin; Humans; Hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - administration & dosage; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Laser Doppler perfusion imaging; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; Light; Male; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Oxygen - analysis; Oxygen tension; Photochemotherapy; Photodynamic therapy; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; 5-Aminolevulinic acid; Human skin; Hydrogen peroxide; Photodynamic therapy; Oxygen tension; Laser Doppler perfusion imaging; Sonography; Doppler ultrasound study; Human; Oxygen; Dermatology; Peroxides Hydrogen; Cream; Local administration; Treatment; Perfusion; Laser; Skin; Topical administration
• ISSN: 0340-3696; 1432-069X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00403-011-1128-x

Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) photodynamic therapy (PDT) of skin lesions is an accepted treatment for skin tumours but success rates need improvement. The effectiveness of PDT is influenced by availability of oxygen. The aim of this study was to demonstrate, in normal skin, whether a decrease in skin oxygen tension reduces the photodynamic reaction (PDR); and whether the addition of topical hydrogen peroxide can reverse the effect. Topical MAL and red light were administered to the inner forearms of 40 healthy volunteers. Skin oxygen availability was lowered during the illumination phase of the PDT, by applying blanching pressure with a plastic slide. Topical hydrogen peroxide was applied under the pressure slide, immediately prior to illumination, to reverse the effect. Erythema was assessed by naked eye and laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI), at baseline and at 1, 5, 24 and 48 h following illumination. Decreasing oxygen availability by pressure altered the PDR with a larger number of subjects (17.5%) not demonstrating any visible erythema at any time point after plastic slide pressure compared to a PDR Control site (7.5%). The addition of topical hydrogen peroxide during pressure application, restored the number of subjects showing no visible erythema compared to that of PDR Control. LDPI data showed that there was a decrease in mean perfusion after plastic slide pressure when comparing the change from baseline to 24 h (
P
 < 0.05) with the PDR Control. The addition of hydrogen peroxide not only restored but also increased the mean perfusion compared to that of PDR Control when comparing the change from baseline to 5 h and the change from baseline to 24 h (
P
 < 0.001). Increasing oxygen availability increased the PDR in normal skin. The possibility that addition of topical hydrogen peroxide to PDT protocols for non-melanoma skin cancer may increase reactivity and, thus, be relevant for outcomes warrants further study.