Background: The efficacy of the 800-nm diode laser system in clearing leg veins was analyzed subjectively and objectively in a variety of leg veins.
Methods: A total of 10 women (age 25-55 years, skin types II-IV) with a variety of leg vein types were treated with an 800-nm diode laser. A sequence of pulses (5-8 stacked pulses, pulse duration 50 milliseconds, delay 50 milliseconds) was applied on a 3-mm spot (210-336 J/cm2 fluence, depending on vessel size). Treatment on the same vein was performed at intervals of 2 months until complete clearance was achieved (maximum: 3 treatments). The results were assessed at 6 months from the last treatment. Patients evaluated their subjective improvement by means of a questionnaire to elicit the satisfaction index. In an independent objective assessment, the clearance index was based on the pretreatment and posttreatment clinical photography, also analyzed by a computer program.
Results: All patients completed the trial with mild but transient side effects. The patient 6-month assessments for very good, good, fair, poor, and worse were 1, 5, 3, 1, and 0, respectively. For the clinician-assessed clearance index, the numbers for the same grades were 2, 6, 2, 0, and 0, and for the computer assessment they were 1, 6, 2, 1, and 0. No patient scored worse in any assessment. The overall satisfaction index and clinician and computer clearance indexes were 60%, 80%, and 70%, respectively.
Limitations: No control group could be obtained in this study.
Conclusions: The 800-nm diode laser as used in the study may well offer an effective treatment method for leg veins that is comparatively pain and side-effect free. Best results were obtained in vessels of 3 to 4 mm in diameter located on the thigh, and in patients with phototype III skin. No correlation was seen between results and patient age.