title: Activation of complement in the skin after PUVA therapy.
abstract: Suction blister fluid from the abdominal skin of 14 healthy subjects was examined for the presence of split products of complement C3 (C3-split) as an indicator of complement activation before and after treatment with either UVA or PUVA. Following PUVA a significant increase in C3-split was found (p less than 0.05) in both irradiated and non-irradiated skin areas. Following UVA the increase in C3-split was less pronounced. The activation of complement may play an important role in the maintenance of the delayed erythema that appears after irradiation with long-wave ultraviolet light.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3