Response of spider leg veins to pulsed diode laser (810 nm): a clinical, histological and remission spectroscopy study.

BACKGROUND

Spider leg veins are common. Their treatment with laser or intensed light therapy shows generally variable success rates and often adverse side effects such as hyper- or hypopigmentation. This study was performed to investigate whether pulsed diode laser (810 nm) treatment is effective and safe.

METHODS

Thirty-five female patients with spider leg veins were included in this prospective trial. They were treated twice with a pulsed diode laser (810 nm; spot size 12 mm, frequency 2-4 Hz, pulse width 60 msec, fluence 80-100 Jcm(-2)). Laser therapy was performed on day 0 and day 14. Clinical assessments were carried out before and immediately after the first laser therapy, after 2 weeks, 8 weeks, and one year. Skin biopsies were taken before and immediately after the first laser treatment, and after 10 weeks. Contact-free remittance spectroscopy was performed before laser treatment, immediately after the first treatment, after 2 weeks and 8 weeks.

RESULTS

After the first treatment 15 patients showed a complete disappearance (CR) of spider leg veins; in the remaining 20 patients a remarkable improvement (RI) was noted (n=35). After six months of follow-up CR was seen in 6 patients, RI in 6, a stable situation in 9, and scar formation in 1 patient (n=21). The effect was almost completely stable during one year of follow-up. The examination of histological specimens before and after laser treatment showed no cellular inflammatory reaction. The mean vascular area was significantly reduced after the first (p<0.05) and after the second (p<0.05) laser treatment. Spectral analysis showed a marked decrease of peaks for oxygenized haemoglobin immediately after laser treatment and during the follow-up. Safety profile was excellent without purpuric reaction or pigmentary changes. Mild scarring was observed in two patients at the end of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulsed diode laser therapy (810 nm) is an effective and safe treatment option for spider leg veins. The effects can be seen immediately. Objective monitoring by non-invasive remission spectroscopy and histology of biopsy specimens demonstrates selectivity of the laser action.