European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background:Actinic Keratosis (AK) lesions are cutaneous neoplasms develop as a result of
chronic UV exposure.Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used in conjunction with molecular
oxygen to elicit cell death (phototoxicity).
Aim of work: Investigation of complete responses ratesafter daylight photodynamic therapy using
methylene blue versus cryotherapy in the treatment of AKs.
Patients and Methods:We conducted out an experimental study at Dermatology, Venereology and
Andrology Department, Zagazig University Hospitals on 30 AK patients suitable for daylight
photodynamic therapy with methylene blue (DL-MB/PDT) (liposomal-loaded methylene blue gel
10%) in 15 patients (group I) and cryotherapy in the other 15 patients (group II).
Results: there was no statistical significant difference between groups I and II in response to
treatment.Group I showed 86.7% partial response and 13.3% complete response and group II
showed partial response 80% and complete response 20%. Absence of response to daylight-
MB/PDT was not observed. In our study, there was no statistically significant relation between
response and demographic, history and clinical data in group I and group II.
Conclusion: In conclusion, MB/PDT is a useful and safe therapeutic method for treating AKs,
which had advantages over cryotherapy. We believe that MB is an excellent alternative as the
advantages of MB include its high safety profile, low cost as it is routinely available in hospital
pharmacies.