Topical psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA) and superficial radiotherapy in the treatment of chronic hand eczema.
The therapeutic efficacy of conventional superficial radiotherapy and topical psoralen photochemotherapy (topical PUVA) administered over a 6 week period was compared in a double-blind study of 21 patients with chronic bilateral constitutional hand eczema. One hand was treated with conventional superficial radiotherapy and the other with topical 8-methoxy-psoralen and long-wave ultraviolet light (topical PUVA). Significantly better clinical improvement was seen in superficial radiotherapy treated hands over topical PUVA treated hands after 6 weeks of treatment, but this difference was not maintained at 9 or 18 weeks. There was no significant difference in symptom severity between the two treatments after 6 weeks, but superficial radiotherapy produced significantly more symptomatic improvement at 9 and 18 weeks. Superficial radiotherapy is a less time consuming procedure than topical PUVA and leads to more rapid improvement.
Department of Dermatology, General Infirmary, Leeds, U.K.
R A
RA
Sheehan-Dare
M J
MJ
Goodfield
N R
NR
Rowell
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004485:Eczema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D011897:Random Allocation