Efficacy of Hemoporfin-PDT in Treating Isotope-Resistant Port-Wine Stains: A Case Series

Isotope treatment of port wine stains (PWS) may lead to skin damage and cancer. And Hemoporfin-PDT may be a potential treatment option for isotope-resistant PWS. Six PWS patients, previously treated unsuccessfully with isotopes, enrolled in this study. After obtaining informed consent, they underwent mutiple Hemoporfin-PDT at our center. Baseline and 3-month post-treatment images were captured using high-definition photography, with additional imaging techniques (dermoscopy, high-frequency ultrasound, and VISIA photography) employed when possible. Hemoporfin-PDT successfully treated six PWS patients with suboptimal isotope therapy outcomes, alleviating significant physical and psychological distress. The treatment was well-tolerated, reducing lesion severity by at least 50% after 2-4 sessions with minimal side effects. Hemoporfin-PDT may offer a safe and effective treatment option for patients with isotope-resistant port-wine stains who have experienced treatment failure and irreversible skin damage from previous modalities, such as isotope therapy.