Evaluation of Daylight Methylene Blue Photodynamic Therapy in Multiple Recurrent Molluscum Contagiosum

Abstract

Abstract Background Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral infection caused by DNA Poxvirus. Daylight-photodynamic therapy (DL-PDT) is defined as a photochemical reaction used to selectively destroy tissue. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of daylight methylene blue photodynamic therapy in treatment of multiple recurrent molluscum contagiosum. Subject and methods This is a single blinded controlled prospective interventional clinical study including 20 patients with molluscum contagiosum diagnosed clinically and by dermoscopy. Patients subjected to daylight methylene blue-mediated photodynamic therapy. Topical MB liposomal loaded 10% cream was applied over the lesions area with occlusion and left for 15 minutes. Two leisons were left as control in each studied patient. Patients were instructed to stay outdoors exposing their lesions and the adjacent area to daylight continuously for at least 90 minutes (if it was a sunny day) or 120 minutes (if it was an overcast or partially sunny day) between 11:00 am to 02:00 pm. Treatment sessions were done weekly for 10 weeks or till complete clearance. Follow up of the patients for 6 months after end of study to detect recurrence or appearance of new lesions. Results Daylight MB Mediated PDT response in a total of 20 (100%) studied patients showed Excellent response to treatment shown as complete clearance in 65%( no.=13) of patients, very good response to treatment in 15.0%( no.=3), good response to treatment in 10.0%( no.=2) and poor response to treatment in 10.0%( no.=2). The total number of lesions was 313. Response of the lesions in studied patents to MB-PDT was monitored by dermoscopic follow up of lesions. Lesions showed complete response in 66.5% (no. = 208) of lesions, partial response in 25.2% (no. = 79) of lesions and no response in 8.3% (no. = 26) of lesions. No serious side effects and also MB-DL/PDT is a painless treatment. No relapse was detected at the site of cleared MC or at a near site during the follow-up period of 6 months following the procedure. Conclusion Daylight-PDT using MB is effective in clearing MC lesions, also is safe, easy to carry out, economic, acceptable cosmetic results with no recurrence, convenient especially for children as it is a painless treatment.