Photopheresis in the red man or pre-Sézary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
The beneficial effect of extracorporeal photochemotherapy has clearly been established for patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with Sézary's syndrome. But this treatment has not been used in the red man syndrome or pre-Sézary syndrome. Some of these patients do not respond sufficiently or do not tolerate other therapies.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this open study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of photopheresis in this group of patients.


METHODS
Seven patients with the red man syndrome were treated on 2 consecutive days every 4 weeks for 6-22 months. Six had been on systemic steroids and 3 had also received retinoids without sufficient effects. All were initially treated with topical nitrogen mustard but no longer tolerated this treatment.


RESULTS
All signs of erythroderma disappeared in 6 of the 7 patients. All systemic therapy could be discontinued in all but 2 patients. No side effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Photopheresis may be an effective alternative treatment for this group of patients, when other types of therapy have failed.
Zachariae
H
H
Department of Dermatology, Marselisborg Hospital, Arhus, Denmark.
Bjerring
P
P
Brodthagen
U
U
Søgaard
H
H
D017255:Acitretin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D017893:Photopheresis; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure
D008466:Mechlorethamine; D017255:Acitretin; D011241:Prednisone