Psoralen plus ultraviolet A in the prophylactic treatment of benign summer light eruption.
We report the results of a French multicentre study to evaluate the efficiency of psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy in the prophylactic treatment of benign summer light eruption (BSLE) and to establish the optimal protocol of radiation. Nine photobiology centres took part in this study; 83 patients (76 of them women) were evaluated. The radiation protocols were as follows: oral psoralen (8-methoxypsoralen; 0.6 mg/kg) was taken at each session; the starting dose of UVA radiation was determined according to skin type, with increments of 0.5 J/cm2 every 2 sessions. The subjects were randomized to receive 10-20 sessions 3 times per week. PUVA therapy was very effective: 68 patients (82%) reported total protection from BSLE. Four patients (5%) showed progress. Only 13% showed no improvement. The satisfactory results were not correlated with either the number of sessions or the J/cm2 of UVA. The intensity of tanning after the PUVA sessions did not appear to predict cure. Thirty-six percent of the patients had adverse reactions to treatment, including erythema, pruritus and triggering of BSLE. However, these effects only required the treatment to be stopped in 2% of the cases (for severe pruritus). The results in the various centres were similar.
Leonard
F
F
Department of Dermatology, University of Reims, France.
Morel
M
M
Kalis
B
B
Amblard
P
P
Avenel-Audran
M
M
Beani
J C
JC
Bonnetblanc
J M
JM
Leroy
D
D
Marguery
M C
MC
Peyron
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects