open access

Vol 94, No 11 (2023)
Research paper
Published online: 2023-04-20
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The use of CO2 laser in vulvar lichen sclerosus treatment — molecular evidence

Adrianna Marzec1, Anita Olejek1, Kamila Stopinska1, Wojciech Cnota1, Iwona Gabriel1
·
Pubmed: 37162144
·
Ginekol Pol 2023;94(11):903-906.
Affiliations
  1. Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

open access

Vol 94, No 11 (2023)
ORIGINAL PAPERS Gynecology
Published online: 2023-04-20

Abstract

Objectives: Vulvar lichen sclerosus is chronic and difficult to treat disorder, which often is recurrent and leads to multiple complications. The limited efficacy of pharmacologic treatment directed the search for new therapies including use of CO2 laser. The aim of the study was to provide rationale for the use of CO2 laser in treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus.

Material and methods: Two patients with diagnosed LS were recruited for the study. Vulvar biopsies were taken taken before CO2 laser application and then 3 months later. We assessed the following genes: COL1A, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL5A3, ELN, ECM1, HSPA1A, HSPA1B, SERPINH1, TLL1, TP53, BMP1. We also assessed patients' quality of life by VuAS scale before and after treatment.

Results: In both patients we observed decreased clinical symptoms observed by an experienced gynecologist as well as significant changes in gene expression before and after laser treatment.

Conclusions: Treatment with CO2 laser can be alternatively considered in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus.

Abstract

Objectives: Vulvar lichen sclerosus is chronic and difficult to treat disorder, which often is recurrent and leads to multiple complications. The limited efficacy of pharmacologic treatment directed the search for new therapies including use of CO2 laser. The aim of the study was to provide rationale for the use of CO2 laser in treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus.

Material and methods: Two patients with diagnosed LS were recruited for the study. Vulvar biopsies were taken taken before CO2 laser application and then 3 months later. We assessed the following genes: COL1A, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL5A3, ELN, ECM1, HSPA1A, HSPA1B, SERPINH1, TLL1, TP53, BMP1. We also assessed patients' quality of life by VuAS scale before and after treatment.

Results: In both patients we observed decreased clinical symptoms observed by an experienced gynecologist as well as significant changes in gene expression before and after laser treatment.

Conclusions: Treatment with CO2 laser can be alternatively considered in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus.

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Keywords

vulvar lichen sclerosus; CO2 laser; heat shock proteins; collagen; COL1A1; HSPA1A; HSPA1B

About this article
Title

The use of CO2 laser in vulvar lichen sclerosus treatment — molecular evidence

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 94, No 11 (2023)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

903-906

Published online

2023-04-20

Page views

501

Article views/downloads

446

DOI

10.5603/GP.a2023.0044

Pubmed

37162144

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2023;94(11):903-906.

Keywords

vulvar lichen sclerosus
CO2 laser
heat shock proteins
collagen
COL1A1
HSPA1A
HSPA1B

Authors

Adrianna Marzec
Anita Olejek
Kamila Stopinska
Wojciech Cnota
Iwona Gabriel

References (11)
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  2. Krapf JM, Mitchell L, Holton MA, et al. Vulvar lichen sclerosus: current perspectives. Int J Womens Health. 2020; 12: 11–20.
  3. Hadas E, Żerdzińska A, Norek N, et al. Multifocal lichen sclerosus. Case report. Przegl Dermatol. 2015; 102: 28–32.
  4. Lewis FM, Tatnall FM, Velangi SS, et al. British Association of Dermatologists guidelines for the management of lichen sclerosus, 2018. Br J Dermatol. 2018; 178(4): 839–853.
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  6. Stewart K, Javaid S, Schallen KP, et al. Fractional CO2 laser treatment as adjunctive therapy to topical steroids for managing vulvar lichen sclerosus. Lasers Surg Med. 2022; 54(1): 138–151.
  7. Eaton AA, Baser RE, Seidel B, et al. Validation of clinical tools for vaginal and vulvar symptom assessment in cancer patients and survivors. J Sex Med. 2017; 14(1): 144–151.
  8. Matuszczak E, Weremijewicz A, Koper-Lenkiewicz OM, et al. Effects of combined Pulsed Dye Laser and Fractional CO Laser treatment of burn scars and correlation with plasma levels of collagen type I, MMP-2 and TIMP-1. Burns. 2021; 47(6): 1342–1351.
  9. Wu S, Pei Q, Ni W, et al. HSPA1A protect cells from thermal stress by impending ESCRT-0-mediated autophagic flux in epidermal thermoresistance. J Invest Dermatol. 2021; 141: 48–53.
  10. Mansouri V, Rezaei-Tavirani M, Zadeh-Esmaeel MM, et al. Analysis of laser therapy effects on squamous cell carcinoma patients: a system biology study. J Lasers Med Sci. 2019; 10(Suppl 1): S1–S6.
  11. Baggish MS. Fractional CO2 laser treatment for vaginal atrophy and vulvar lichen sclerosus. J Gynecol Surg. 2016; 32(6): 309–317.

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