Feasibility study of 5-aminolevulinic acid mediated photodynamic therapy of persistent vaginal high-risk HPV infection of post-hysterectomy patients

Patients after hysterectomy are at higher risk for developing VaIN. However, there are no standard treatments for HPV infection and VaIN after hysterectomy and relative studies are limited. Thus we aim to evaluate the feasibility of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT) for the treatment of persistent vaginal infection with high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) in post-hysterectomy patients.Thirty-eight patients aged 43-70 years old with persistent vaginal stump HR-HPV infection with or without histological vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN1) during follow-up after hysterectomy were recruited. Twenty patients received three times of ALA-PDT (PDT Group). Eighteen patients did not receive any treatments (Control Group). HPV testing, cytology, and colposcopy were performed in all patients 4-6 months and 12 months after treatment.HR-HPV remission rates of the PDT Group were 40% (8/20) and 66.67% (12/18) at the 4-6 month and 12-month follow-up, respectively, both were significantly higher than that of the Control Group (11.11% (2/18) and 6.23% (1/16), respectively; P < 0.05). For the PDT Group, the regression rate of VaIN1 was 100% (7/7) at 4-6 months, while VaIN1 recurred in two cases (28.6%) at the 12-month due to persistent HR-HPV infection. No persistence or progression of VaIN1 was noted. For the Control group, the spontaneous regression rate of VaIN1 was 50% (3/6) at 4-6 months and one patient progressed into VaIN2. At the 12-month follow-up point, one patient reccurred and the disease regression, persistence and recurrence rates were 40% (2/5), 40% (2/5) and 20% (1/5), respectively. Adverse reactions were mild after PDT treatment.5-ALA-PDT is a safe, non-invasive, and effective option for post-hysterectomy patients who have persistent HR-HPV infection.