PDL and Dobesilate

[CollegeStudent12]

Hey guys! About a week ago I stumbled upon this study: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00945373

Apparently, a group up at the Mt. Sinai Medical School in New York are interesting in measuring the difference it makes in incorporating topical calcium dobesilate into pulsed dye laser treatments. From what I understand, calcium dobesilate inhibits angiogenesis (basically a $68.00 word for "vein growth") and acts as a way of preventing annoying blood vessel regrowth after they've been zapped.

So what they'll be doing is zapping test subjects with a standard PDL treatment, waiting a little bit for the face to settle down, then spreading a calcium dobesilate gel to the treated area to see if it makes any difference in the final result. Sounds like a pretty cool, huh?

The problem is that calcium dobesilate has never really been systemically observed on rosacean skin before. The only thing remotely resembling a "study" is posted here: http://rosacea-support.org/rosacea-a...obesilate.html

The doctor in question used dobesilate gel on only a 33-year-old woman, and, judging from the picture, appeared to get some impressive results. However, that was just one woman. There are a few people who managed to get a hold on the same gel who reported less than incredible results--you can read about it in the Comments section, under the article.

Tomorrow, I'm taking a quick morning trip up to the city in order to meet with the woman in charge of the study. I'd really like to participate in this one, if only for the fact that we get 4 free PDL treatments.

She said the study is essentially filled up, so I was wondering whether any other forum-lurkers have signed their lives away in order to take part.

[mattdog323]

Originally Posted by CollegeStudent12

Hey guys! About a week ago I stumbled upon this study: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00945373

Apparently, a group up at the Mt. Sinai Medical School in New York are interesting in measuring the difference it makes in incorporating topical calcium dobesilate into pulsed dye laser treatments. From what I understand, calcium dobesilate inhibits angiogenesis (basically a $68.00 word for "vein growth") and acts as a way of preventing annoying blood vessel regrowth after they've been zapped.

So what they'll be doing is zapping test subjects with a standard PDL treatment, waiting a little bit for the face to settle down, then spreading a calcium dobesilate gel to the treated area to see if it makes any difference in the final result. Sounds like a pretty cool, huh?

The problem is that calcium dobesilate has never really been systemically observed on rosacean skin before. The only thing remotely resembling a "study" is posted here: http://rosacea-support.org/rosacea-a...obesilate.html

The doctor in question used dobesilate gel on only a 33-year-old woman, and, judging from the picture, appeared to get some impressive results. However, that was just one woman. There are a few people who managed to get a hold on the same gel who reported less than incredible results--you can read about it in the Comments section, under the article.

Tomorrow, I'm taking a quick morning trip up to the city in order to meet with the woman in charge of the study. I'd really like to participate in this one, if only for the fact that we get 4 free PDL treatments.

She said the study is essentially filled up, so I was wondering whether any other forum-lurkers have signed their lives away in order to take part.

u have to be careful trying new things,Lasers can be dangerous,

They should only be used if the evidence backs them up,And that's in the thousands,Getting free untrailed treatments is stupid.

[CollegeStudent12]

Sorry, but I think I have to disagree with you a bit. This is an FDA-approved trial at a well-known medical school; it's going to be well-monitored, and it's going to be professional. If no one were willing to trial as-of-now unapproved drugs, we'd never learn about potentially effective treatments for erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, which, as of right now, is sorely lacking in the treatment department.

At the same time, I can see what you're saying. That's why I'm having a consultation in a few hours; I want to discuss whether the groups thinks my particular breed of rosacea would benefit, whether the drug has seen any results in the past, what actions would be taken if my rosacea were worsened, etc...

I certainly haven't committed to anything yet.

[Melissa W]

Good luck!
Let us know how it goes

[CollegeStudent12]

Sorry folks, but I don't think I'm going to be accepted into the study. Apparently there was another applicant for the final spot who had worse rosacea than mine; perhaps because I'm fairly young, my rosacea's confined to chronic redness on my cheeks and forehead, with little to no flushing and little to no papules and pustules.

Anywho, the lack of broadly visible telangiectasia seemed to make me an unideal candidate for the treatment -- the doctor I met with said that on normal circumstances, I would have been acceptable, but since they have another volunteer with more advanced symptoms, they would have to go with him instead.

To be honest, part of me isn't that surprised. I feel like my rosacea is fairly abnormal in its manifestation; the last doctor I saw, who was supposedly a rosacea specialist, seemed to think it wasn't rosacea at all, but KPRF. Oh well. I'm still interested to see how to see how the study goes. Who knows, it could be the key to unlocking a new topical treatment for vascular erythema, or for maximizing the efficacy of laser treatment by eliminating vascular regrowth. Either way, it'd be a step in the right direction. Here's hoping for promising results!