Date of Award

Spring 4-19-2024

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Medical Science (MMSc)

First Advisor

Sean Christensen, MD, PhD

Abstract

Immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients are at a significantly increased risk of skin cancer and precursor actinic keratoses. Guidelines to protect against these lesions are not well-established. Existing data suggests that photodynamic therapy could be effective in the prevention of new actinic keratoses and skin cancers in this population. Therefore, we propose early intervention with photodynamic therapy to combat actinic keratoses and skin cancer in transplant recipients. We will conduct an intrapatient randomized clinical trial comparing two treatments of topical five-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy to placebo on the face as adjuvants to standard sunscreen in transplant recipients within the first year after transplantation. We will compare the mean number of actinic keratoses between treated and untreated sides of the face 12 and 18 months after the initial treatment. These results may redefine guidelines for the prevention of actinic keratoses in transplant recipients and reduce the incidence of skin cancer.

Comments

This is an open access thesis

Open Access

This Article is Open Access

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