1
|
Gnesotto L, Piraccini BM, Starace M, Naldi L, Mioso G, Sechi A. Efficacy of Fractional Versus Fully Ablative CO 2 Laser for Distolateral Onychomycosis: Experience With 20 Patients. Dermatol Pract Concept 2024; 14:dpc.1403a121. [PMID: 39122489 PMCID: PMC11314207 DOI: 10.5826/dpc.1403a121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oral antifungals are the treatment choice for onychomycosis, and topical therapies are favored in cases of limited nail involvement. Recently, carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment has emerged as an option to enhance the effectiveness of topical therapies. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to compare the efficacy of fractional ablative and fully ablative CO2 laser treatments for distolateral subungual onychomycosis affecting a single toenail and caused by dermatophytes. METHODS The records of 10 patients treated with a single fully ablative CO2 session were matched with those of 10 patients who underwent a single CO2 fractional treatment. All had previously failed topical antifungal lacquers and were discharged with the prescription of topical ciclopirox nail lacquer (8%) for 3 months. RESULTS The clinical response rates were 80% for the fully ablative group and 60% for the fractional group. Additionally, the mean reduction in Onychomycosis Severity Index from baseline to 8.6±1.6 weeks after treatment completion was 6.9±5.4 in the fully ablative group and 3.6±6.6 in the fractional group. The relapse rate among responders was 12.5% in the fully ablative and 33.3% in the fractional group after a mean follow-up time of 29.4±2.3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS Fractional and fully ablative CO2 laser in combination with ciclopirox lacquer could increase the response rate in onychomycosis resistant to topical antifungals when systemic therapy is contraindicated or not yet pursued. Fully ablative mode therapy is significantly more effective than fractional (P < 0.05). Further studies are needed to identify prognostic response factors and assess the long-term effectiveness of CO2 laser treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gnesotto
- Department of Medicine-DIMED, Unit of Dermatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Bianca Maria Piraccini
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michela Starace
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldi
- Dermatology Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Guido Mioso
- Department of Medicine-DIMED, Unit of Dermatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Sechi
- Dermatology Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gnesotto L, Cannata GE, Pavan G, Naldi L, Sechi A. CO 2 Laser-Assisted Nail Sampling for Mycological Testing in Onychomycosis. Skin Appendage Disord 2024; 10:215-219. [PMID: 38835715 PMCID: PMC11147519 DOI: 10.1159/000536289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Onychomycosis is the most common nail infection, predominantly caused by Trichophyton spp., and is divided into four main types. Confirmatory testing is crucial, but obtaining an adequate sample may be challenging. We suggest the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser for painlessly detaching the nail plate during mycological examination and ensuring a sufficient specimen. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 25 patients with distolateral onychomycosis, treated according to the following protocol: (1) multiple passes of CO2 laser at 10 W in continuous mode along the proximal border of the affected nail plate; (2) the nail plate was gently cut; (3) the nail bed was curetted; (4) subungual debris and plate fragments were collected for KOH test and culture. Results The mean visual analog score (VAS) for pain experienced during the procedure was 0.7 (SD: 2.1), indicating that the sampling was relatively painless for the majority of patients. There were no permanent changes observed in the nail unit of any patients during the follow-up visits as a result of using the CO2 laser. Conclusion We firmly believe that the use of lasers offers numerous advantages, including ease of use, reduced pain perception, and the ability to target the proximal margin of fungal infections where viable hyphae are significantly represented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gnesotto
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Luigi Naldi
- Dermatology Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Andrea Sechi
- Dermatology Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Meretsky CR, Friday BL, Schiuma AT. Efficacy of Laser Therapy in Comparison With Other Methods for the Treatment of Onychomycosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus 2024; 16:e59720. [PMID: 38841013 PMCID: PMC11151181 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nails, presents a significant challenge in clinical management due to its chronic nature and resistance to conventional therapies. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of laser therapy in treating onychomycosis compared to traditional methods such as terbinafine. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to analyze existing literature on the subject. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) diagram illustrates the selection process of studies. Findings suggest that laser therapy demonstrates promising results in the treatment of onychomycosis, with comparable efficacy to terbinafine and fewer adverse effects. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate these findings and establish laser therapy as a standard treatment option for onychomycosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brooke L Friday
- Medical School, St. George's University School of Medicine, Great River, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Konisky H, Klinger R, Coe L, Jaller JA, Cohen JL, Kobets K. A focused review on laser- and energy-assisted drug delivery for nail disorders. Lasers Med Sci 2024; 39:39. [PMID: 38240827 PMCID: PMC10799127 DOI: 10.1007/s10103-024-03992-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to consolidate and summarize laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) for nail diseases, particularly onychomycosis and psoriasis. A PubMed search was conducted in June 2023 using search terms (1) "laser assisted drug delivery" AND "nail," (2) "laser" AND "nail," and (3) "nail disorder" AND "laser treatment." References of papers were also reviewed, yielding 15 papers for this review. Fractional ablative CO2 laser (FACL) and Er:YAG laser can be used for LADD of topical medications such as amorolfine, terbinafine, and tioconazole to treat onychomycosis. A fungal culture should be performed to determine the type of dermatophyte, which will help determine which topical will be most effective. Laser settings varied between studies, but overall LADD tended to be more effective than topical treatments alone. Laser-assisted photodynamic therapy (PDT) was also found to be effective in treating onychomycosis. For psoriatic nails, LADD was used to deliver calcipotriol-betamethasone dipropionate foam, tazarotene, triamcinolone, or methotrexate into the nail. Again, LADD was found to be significantly more effective than topical treatment alone. FACL was the only laser noted for use for LADD in both diseases. Laser-assisted drug delivery for nail disease is a newer approach for onychomycosis and nail psoriasis with several benefits and drawbacks. Dermatologists should discuss the option of LADD with their patients who have recalcitrant onychomycosis or nail psoriasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Konisky
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Raquel Klinger
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Lesley Coe
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Jose A Jaller
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Joel L Cohen
- AboutSkin Dermatology and DermSurgery, Greenwood Village, CO, USA
| | - Kseniya Kobets
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ng WHS, Smith SD. Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery: A Systematic Review of Safety and Adverse Events. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122738. [PMID: 36559233 PMCID: PMC9787022 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) is an increasingly studied and applied methodology for drug delivery. It has been used in a wide variety of clinical applications. Given the relatively low barrier to entry for clinicians as well as ongoing research in this area, the authors aimed to review outcomes relating to safety in laser-assisted drug delivery. A systematic review was conducted, with the databases PubMed, Medline and Embase searched in September 2022. Included articles were those that mentioned laser-assisted drug delivery in human subjects that also reported adverse effects or safety outcomes. There were no language-based exclusions. Conference abstracts and literature reviews were excluded. The results were then tabulated and categorized according to the application of LADD. In total, 501 articles were obtained. Following deduplication, screening, and full text review 70 articles of various study designs were included. Common findings were erythema, oedema, pain, and crusting following LADD. Several notably more severe adverse effects such as generalized urticaria, infection, scarring and dyspigmentation were noted. However, these events were varied depending on the clinical use of LADD. Relevant negatives were also noted whereby no studies reported life-threatening adverse effects. Limitations included limited details regarding the adverse effects within the full texts, lack of follow-up, and risk of bias. In conclusion, there were multiple adverse effects that clinicians should consider prior to carrying out LADD, where treatment goals and patient tolerability should be considered. Further evidence is needed to quantitatively determine these risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Saxon D. Smith
- ANU Medical School, ANU College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Efficacy of laser therapy combined with topical antifungal agents for onychomycosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Lasers Med Sci 2022; 37:2557-2569. [PMID: 35484440 DOI: 10.1007/s10103-022-03561-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Onychomycosis is a common fungal infection of the nail. Laser and topical antifungal agent combination therapy is an emerging treatment for onychomycosis. The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of laser and topical antifungal agent combination therapy for onychomycosis. METHODS The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and VIP databases were searched from inception to November 2021. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on laser therapy combined with topical antifungal agents for onychomycosis were included. The Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and Revman 5.3 software was used in the meta-analysis. RESULTS Twelve studies involving 869 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that compared with topical antifungal agents alone, laser and topical antifungal agent combination therapy was superior in terms of the complete cure rate (RR 6.04,95% CI (2.17, 16.85), P = 0.0006), mycological cure rate (RR 1.27, 95% CI (1.10, 1.48), P = 0.001), clinical effective rate (RR 1.38, 95% CI (1.20, 1.57), P < 0.00001) and patient satisfaction rate (RR 1.47,95% CI (1.17, 1.84), P = 0.0009).The subgroup analysis of outcome indicators, including mycological cure rate and clinical effective rate, demonstrated that both carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy combined with topical antifungal therapy and 1064-nm neodymium-doped:yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser therapy combined with topical antifungal therapy showed better results than topical antifungal therapy alone. No adverse events were identified except for three studies reporting transient burning sensation without treatment and mild to moderate pain, both of which were well tolerated. CONCLUSION The present study indicated that laser and topical antifungal agent combination therapy is effective for onychomycosis. However, more large-scale and well-designed RCTs are warranted.
Collapse
|
7
|
Ortner VK, Nguyen N, Brewer JR, Solovyeva V, Haedersdal M, Philipsen PA. Fractional CO 2 laser ablation leads to enhanced permeation of a fluorescent dye in healthy and mycotic nails-An imaging investigation of laser-tissue effects and their impact on ungual drug delivery. Lasers Surg Med 2022; 54:861-874. [PMID: 35451510 PMCID: PMC9544547 DOI: 10.1002/lsm.23541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Conventional oral antifungal therapies for onychomycosis (OM) often do not achieve complete cure and may be associated with adverse effects, medical interactions, and compliance issues restricting their use in a large group of patients. Topical treatment can bypass the systemic side effects but is limited by the physical barrier of the nail plate. Ablative fractional laser (AFL) treatment can be used to improve the penetration of topical drugs into the nail. This study visualized the effects of laser ablation of nail tissue and assessed their impact on the biodistribution of a fluorescent dye in healthy and fungal nail tissue. Methods For the qualitative assessment of CO2 AFL effects on healthy nail tissue, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering microscopy (CARS‐M), and widefield fluorescence microscopy (WFM) were used. To quantitate the effect of laser‐pretreatment on the delivery of a fluorescent dye, ATTO‐647N, into healthy and fungal nail tissue, ablation depth, nail plate thickness, and ATTO‐647N fluorescence intensity in three nail plate layers were measured using WFM. A total of 30 nail clippings (healthy n = 18, fungal n = 12) were collected. An aqueous ATTO‐647N solution was directly applied to the dorsal surface of 24 nail samples (healthy n = 12, fungal n = 12) and incubated for 4 hours, of which half (healthy n = 6, fungal n = 6) had been pretreated with AFL (30 mJ/mb, 15% density, 300 Hz, pulse duration <1 ms). Results Imaging revealed a three‐layered nail structure, an AFL‐induced porous ablation crater, and changes in autofluorescence. While intact fungal samples showed a 106% higher ATTO‐647N signal intensity than healthy controls, microporation led to a significantly increased fluorophore permeation in all samples (p < 0.0001). AFL processing of nail tissue enhanced topical delivery of ATTO‐647N in all layers, (average increase: healthy +108%, fungal +33%), most pronounced in the top nail layer (healthy +122%, fungal +68%). While proportionally deeper ablation craters correlated moderately with higher fluorescence intensities in healthy nail tissue, fungal samples showed no significant relationship. Conclusion Fractional CO2 laser microporation is a simple way of enhancing the passive delivery of topically applied ATTO‐647N. Although the impaired nail plate barrier in OM leads to greater diffusion of the aqueous solution, AFL can increase the permeability of both structurally deficient and intact nails.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vinzent Kevin Ortner
- Department of Dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nhi Nguyen
- Department of Dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jonathan R Brewer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Vita Solovyeva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Merete Haedersdal
- Department of Dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Alshede Philipsen
- Department of Dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Han Y, Wang Y, Zhang XR, Chen J, Li XD. The effects of CO 2 laser and topical agent combination therapy for onychomycosis: A meta-analysis. Dermatol Ther 2021; 34:e15136. [PMID: 34538013 DOI: 10.1111/dth.15136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The routine options for onychomycosis are oral, topical, and device-based therapies which are often limited in terms of efficacy and unsatisfactory side effects. Topical agents such as luliconazole, tioconazole, terbinafine, and tazarotene can be more effective when combined with laser therapies. Our aim was to compare the efficacy and satisfaction rates of CO2 laser therapy with topical agents in patients with onychomycosis. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Ovid databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of combined therapies. Selected study data were analyzed for differences expressed as odds ratio (OR) and relative ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for dichotomous outcomes. Efficacy and satisfaction outcomes were assessed using quantitative methods. Our investigations showed that combined CO2 laser and topical treatments significantly increased efficacy 5.38-fold when compared with topical agents alone (OR 5.38; 95% CI; 3.20-9.04; p < 0.00001), with low heterogeneity observed among studies (I2 = 38%). Mycological clearance comparison rates were also improved by combined treatments. The higher satisfaction of the combined group was assessed by pooled effect (OR 4.56; 95% CI; 2.78-7.49; p < 0.00001). Our evidence suggests combined therapy may exert positive effects and satisfactory safety for patients with moderate to severe onychomycosis, however, optimal combination options and appropriate dosages require more comprehensive RCTs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Han
- Department of Dermatology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Auditing Department, Liaoning Branch of China Post Group Corporation Limited, Shenyang, China
| | - Xin-Rui Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Li
- Department of Dermatology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
| |
Collapse
|