Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether photodynamic therapy for the treatment of Sturge-Weber syndrome and large segmental facial port-wine stain

Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) is a newly authorized photosensitizer for the treatment of port-wine stain (PWS) in China. However, no research on its efficacy for treating PWS lesions of Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) has been made. To assess the efficacy and safety of HMME-photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of SWS and simple large segmental facial PWS. Medical records of patients with SWS and large segmental facial PWS were reviewed. Efficacy was evaluated according to color blanching and graded as excellent (>= 75%), good (50%-74%), fair (25%-49%), and poor (<= 24%). Adverse events were analyzed. Nineteen patients with SWS and 33 patients with large segmental facial PWS were analyzed. 52.6% SWS and 69.7% PWS patients (p > .05) achieved at least 25% improvement. Common adverse events included short-term pain, edema, pruritus, exudation, and scab. No severe adverse event occurred. HMME-PDT was effective and safe for SWS and large segmental facial PWS.