Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of the photodynamic effect in the treatment of genital warts in women. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecolog, Hospital Na Bulovce, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague. Methods: Twenty-five women with genital warts (HPV infection), which were verified by biopsy, were involved into the study. The affected area was treated by ten milligrams of the 5-aminolevulinic acid in three milliliters of gel for 8 hours. Red light with the 630 nanometers wavelength was applied for 15 minutes, with calculated energy intake 30 J/cm2. Results: All women were free of symptoms and had negative colposcopy in the followed period of 3 to 12 months. On average 3.8 sessions were necessary to reach the remission. It was possible to repeat the session after two weeks time. During the application of light, 17 (68%) of the patients felt either no or slight burning sensation, 6 (24%) had unpleasant but bearable sensation and 2 patients had to be treated in short intravenous anestesia. Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising modality in the treatment of HPV vulvar lesions and can be considered to be a method of choice.

        Key words: phototherapy, aminolevulinic acid, human papillomavirus, vulvar diseases