ND
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Millisecond pulsed 1,064 nm Nd:YAG lasers have been developed
for the treatment of leg telangiectasias. To date
there have been very few side by side comparison studies of laser versus the
gold standard sclerotherapy in treating small leg
veins. This study aims to compare a long pulsed Nd:YAG laser with contact cooling to sclerotherapy for treating small diameter leg telangiectasias by evaluating objective and subjective
clinical effects. STUDY DESIGN/PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients were
selected with leg telangiectasias ranging from 0.5 to
2 mm at four comparable sites. One site was treated with long pulsed Nd:YAG alone, the second received sclerotherapy alone, the third laser then sclerotherapy, and the last one sclerotherapy
then laser. The patients were followed up at 3 months after the last treatment.
Photographs were taken pre-operatively and at 3 months after the last session.
They were used for objective and comparative analysis. Statistical analysis was
performed using Friedman's test controlling for subject. RESULTS: Improvement
was tabulated from the photographic assessment on an improvement scale from 0
(no change) to 4 (greater than 75% clearing). There were clinical improvements
in the laser group than sclerotherapy without
statistical significance. Side effects were minimal and included hyperpigmentation. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study
demonstrates that the Smartepil LS long pulse Nd:YAG 1,064 nm laser can yield
results similar to sclerotherapy in the treatment of
small leg telangiectasias. Combination of both
methods could increase response to treatment. Lasers Surg. Med. 34:273-276, 2004. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
PMID: 15022257 [PubMed - in process]