Fractional CO₂ Laser for Primary Cutaneous Amyloidosis

Overview

This randomized, controlled clinical study will evaluate the clinical and ultrastructural effects, efficacy, and safety of fractional CO₂ laser in patients with primary cutaneous amyloidosis. Twenty-two eligible patients will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either three fractional CO₂ laser sessions at 4-week intervals or no active laser treatment (control group). The primary outcome will be the change in the Amyloidosis Severity Score from baseline to one month after the final laser session, with secondary assessments including dermoscopic findings, transmission electron microscopy findings, pruritus severity, patient satisfaction, and adverse events.

Primary cutaneous amyloidosis is a localized skin disorder characterized by deposition of amyloid within the skin. Available treatments include topical therapies, phototherapy, systemic medications, and various physical modalities; however, no treatment is considered consistently curative or satisfactory. Fractional CO₂ laser has been proposed as a promising physical treatment because it produces controlled microscopic columns of thermal injury that can ablate amyloid-laden tissue and stimulate dermal remodeling. This study is a prospective, randomized, parallel-group, controlled clinical trial conducted at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt. A total of 22 patients aged \>18 years, of either sex, with clinically and histopathologically confirmed primary cutaneous amyloidosis will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to two groups using a computer-generated randomization table. Allocation concealment will be performed using opaque, sequentially numbered, sealed envelopes. Participants in the intervention group will receive three sessions of fractional CO₂ laser, with a 4-week interval between sessions and laser power of 12-18 W. Topical anesthetic cream will be applied before treatment, and patients will receive appropriate post-treatment advice. Participants in the control group will receive no active laser treatment during the study period and will be followed for an equivalent duration; supportive measures such as emollients and antihistamines for pruritus may be used when needed. Clinical assessment will include photography, dermoscopic examination, the Amyloidosis Severity Score, and assessment of pruritus using a visual analogue scale. Skin biopsies will be obtained at baseline and at the final assessment for transmission electron microscopy, including morphometric and image analysis. Adverse events, including redness, swelling, itching, pain, bacterial infection, and bleeding, will also be monitored. The primary outcome is the change in Amyloidosis Severity Score from baseline to one month after the last laser session, or the corresponding time point in the control group. Secondary outcomes include dermoscopic changes, ultrastructural changes on transmission electron microscopy, change in pruritus severity, patient satisfaction, and treatment-related adverse events. The expected study duration is approximately six months, from August 2026 to February 2027. Control-group participants will be offered fractional CO₂ laser treatment free of charge after completion of the study follow-up period.