Initial photochemotherapy of psoriasis with orally administered 8-methoxypsoralen and longwave ultraviolet light (PUVA).
One hundred and seven patients with psoriasis underwent initial PUVA therapy. Complete clearance was obtained in 52.3% of the patients, incomplete in 40.2% while 7.5% of the patients did not respond at all. The non-responders to the regular PUVA treatment regime (0.5 mg 8-MOP/kg body-weight) were given an increased 8-MOP (8-methoxypsoralen) dose schedule (0.6 mg 8-MOP/kg body weight) and in 90.9% of these patients their lesions cleared after 35 PUVA exposures. However, a small percentage (9.1%) of the non-responders to the normal dose schedule did not want to continue the increased 8-MOP dose schedule because of persistent nausea. For this reason they were given regular PUVA therapy and they reacted well, but only after fifty-five exposures. Irrespective of the complete or incomplete clearance of psoriasis the patients remained in remission for a mean period of about 5 1/2 months. During the remission period the patients were advised to use a tar preparation or topical corticosteroids in the event of minor exacerbations.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D008730:Methoxsalen