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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Acne Vulgaris, Aminolevulinic Acid, Humans, Pain Measurement, Photochemotherapy, Photosensitizing Agents, Single-Blind Method.
user
Does photodynamic therapy with methylaminolevulinate 80 mg/g without occlusion improve acne vulgaris? Context: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with methylaminolevulinate (MAL) under occlusion is effective for the treatment of acne vulgaris but is associated with significant phototoxic side effects. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical MAL with or without occlusion followed by red light exposure in patients with facial acne vulgaris. Forty-four patients with facial acne vulgaris were randomized to receive four MAL applications (80 mg/g) at two-week intervals with occlusion on either the right or left side followed 90 minutes later by either 25 or 37 J/cm2 of red light. At 18 weeks after the first MAL-PDT treatment, the percentage of inflammatory lesions was reduced by a median of 31.7, 59.4, 58.1 and 55.8 percent for patients randomized to 25 J/cm2 without occlusion, 25 J/cm2 with occlusion, 37 J/cm2 without occlusion and 37 J/cm2 with occlusion respectively. MAL-PDT was, in general, well tolerated and only two patients discontinued their participation due to adverse events.
assistant
PDT with MAL at 80 mg/g without occlusion reduces the number of inflammatory lesions in patients with facial acne vulgaris. Final Decision: yes