ArticleArchives of gynecology and obstetrics2023
Nd:YAG/Er:YAG dual laser vs. topical steroid to treat vulvar lichen sclerosus: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.
Article in Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to trial NCT03926299 (Prospective, Randomized, Active-controlled Investigator Initiated Clinical Trial to Demonstrate That the Nd), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Prospective, Randomized, Active-controlled Investigator Initiated Clinical Trial to Demonstrate That the Nd:YAG/Er:YAG Dual Laser Therapy is Effective to Treat Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus and Similar to Standard Treatment With Steroid Cream
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- One-year outcome after laser treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus: a prospective observational trial.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2026Trial
- Acquired Complete Obliteration of the Vaginal Canal-Surgical Techniques for Management.International urogynecology journal · 2026Article
- Update vulval dermatology - diagnostics and therapy.Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeVulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic debilitating inflammatory skin disease. Today, the gold standard is a life-long topical steroid treatment. Alternative options are highly desired. We present a study protocol of a prospective, randomized, active-controlled, investigator-initiated clinical trial comparing a novel non-invasive dual Nd:YAG/Er:YAG laser therapy with the gold standard for the management of LS.
methodsWe recruited 66 patients, 44 in the laser arm and 22 in the steroid arm. Patients with a physician-administered clinical LS score ≥ 4 were included. Participants received either four laser treatments 1-2 months apart, or 6 months of topical steroid application. Follow-ups were planned at 6, 12, and 24 months. The primary outcome looks at the efficacy of the laser treatment at the 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes look at comparisons between baseline and follow-ups within the laser or the steroid arm, and comparisons between laser vs. steroid arm. Objective (LS score, histopathology, photo documentation) and subjective (Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire, symptom VAS score, patient satisfaction) measurements, tolerability, and adverse events are evaluated.
conclusionThe findings of this trial have the potential to offer a novel treatment option for LS. The standardized Nd:YAG/Er:YAG laser settings and the treatment regime are presented in this paper. CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: NCT03926299.
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