Remission of a cutaneous Mycosis fungoides after topical 5-ALA sensitisation and photodynamic therapy in a patient with advanced HIV-infection.

BACKGROUND

Treatment of Mycosis fungoides (MF) in HIV-infected patients is controversially discoursed. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) after topical sensitization with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a new and effective modality for treatment of skin malignancies.

OBJECTIVE

In this report we describe, what is, to our knowledge, the first case of a patient with MF through advanced HIV-infection, successfully experiencing topical 5-ALA sensitization and PDT.

METHODS

5-ALA ointment was applied to plaques and held in occlusion for 4 hours. PDT was applied using the PDT 1200 irradiation source (Waldmann Medizintechnik System) with 180 J/cm superset 2.

RESULTS

Complete remission of MF was achieved, after two completed cycles of photodynamic therapy.

CONCLUSION

MF lesions in the presended case showed a high response to 5-ALA sensitization and PDT. This modality appeared to be very effective in treatment of MF in a HIV-infected patient and could be a valuable treatment option for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in HIV-infected patients.