title: Lymphopenia and decrease in the total number of circulating CD3+ and CD4+ T cells during 'long-term' PUVA treatment for psoriasis.
abstract: The relationship between high-dose PUVA treatment in psoriatic patients and peripheral T lymphocyte subsets (total number and percentage) has been studied. Of the two groups of patients considered, the first included 19 patients, all affected by chronic, progressively worsening psoriasis; they had never been previously treated by photochemotherapy. The second group included 13 psoriatic patients, who had received an average cumulative dose of 2,007.69 +/- 1,191.05 J/cm2. The 'long-term' PUVA-treated group was assessed while undergoing maintenance therapy. No significant differences were found between untreated patients and healthy controls for any of the parameters considered. A significant reduction (p less than 0.05) in the total number of lymphocytes in long-term PUVA-treated patients both versus untreated patients and controls was found. Furthermore, long-term PUVA-treated patients showed a significant reduction (p less than 0.05) in the percentage of lymphocytes as compared with controls. The reduction in the total number of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells was, moreover, significant (p less than 0.05) as compared with untreated patients. The impairment of circulating CD3+ and CD4+ T cells (total number) was only on the borderline of statistical significance vis-à-vis controls. These findings suggest the usefulness of a careful assessment of circulating T lymphocyte subsets in patients who undergo long-term PUVA therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Hereditary Pathology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borroni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zaccone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vignati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fietta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brazzelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rabbiosi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell