Photodynamic therapy leads to significant improvement of actinic keratosis area and severity index (AKASI)

Schmitz, L., von Dobbeler, C., Gupta, G., Gambichler, T., Szeimies, R.M., Morton, C.A. and Dirschka, T. (2018) Photodynamic therapy leads to significant improvement of actinic keratosis area and severity index (AKASI). Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy, 21, pp. 66-70. (doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2017.10.007) (PMID:29051122)

Abstract

Background: Actinic keratosis area and severity index (AKASI) is a new quantitative tool for assessing AK severity on the head and can be used to monitor outcomes of different therapies. The aim of this study was to determine treatment outcomes of AK applying AKASI three months after conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who have undergone PDT on the head and had a documented AKASI evaluation prior to PDT and at follow-up visits. Results: Of the 33 patients included, 32 (97.0%) patients showed an AKASI reduction and 1 (3.0%) patient an increase of AKASI at follow-up visits compared to baseline. The median (range) follow-up period was 96 days (70-161). The median difference of AKASI values between both visits was 73.7% (-34.8-100.0%). The Wilcoxon test showed highly significant differences (P < 0.0001) between visits. 14 (42.4%) patients showed an AKASI 100 (complete clearance), 16 (48.5%) an AKASI 75 and 24 (72.7%) an AKASI 50, respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test showed in a subgroup analysis of patients with a positive history of at least more than one intervention and treatment naïve patients significant differences in these two groups (P = 0.0302). Conclusions: AKASI represents a feasible and comparable tool for objectively assessing field-directed treatment modalities such as PDT in daily routine. The establishment of AKASI 50, 75, 100 serves as an objective measure to compare treatment outcomes to baseline severity of AK.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: AKASI, ALA, NMSC, actinic keratosis, photodynamic therapy.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gupta, Dr Girish
• Authors: Schmitz, L., von Dobbeler, C., Gupta, G., Gambichler, T., Szeimies, R.M., Morton, C.A., and Dirschka, T.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1572-1000
• ISSN (Online): 1873-1597
• Published Online: 16 October 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
• First Published: First published in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy 21: 66-70
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy