PHOTOBLEACHING OF PHOTOFRIN II AS A MEANS OF ELIMINATING SKIN PHOTOSENSITIVITY *

One of the effects of using Photofrin II as a sensitizer in clinical photodynamic therapy is skin photosensitivity. Avoiding the harmful effect of this photosensitivity typically requires the patient to remain indoors during daylight hours for 4 weeks post injection. Photosensitivity can last up to 8 weeks. A possible method of quickly eliminating skin photosensitivity is the use of photobleaching to eliminate the DHE (dihematoporphyrin ether, the active agent in Photofrin II) from the skin. The Photofrin II was used as supplied (Photomedica, Raritan, NJ) and will be referred to as DHE.