title: Plasma levels of 8-methoxypsoralen after topical paint PUVA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topical PUVA therapy has become a useful alternative for patients who cannot tolerate the systemic side effects of nausea and headache or are concerned about the ophthalmologic risk associated with oral PUVA therapy. However, there is no study to date on the systemic absorption of psoralen after the localized application of topical paint PUVA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to assess the plasma level of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) after paint PUVA therapy for patients with palmoplantar psoriasis or eczema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography was used to determine 8-MOP plasma levels in eight patients with palmoplantar psoriasis and two with eczema. Three patients receiving oral PUVA therapy served as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma levels of 8-MOP taken 1, 6, and 24 hours after topical PUVA treatments of patients with palmoplantar psoriasis were undetectable. One patient with hand eczema consistently had detectable 8-MOP levels 1 hour after topical PUVA treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report indicates that there is minimal, if any, systemic absorption of 8-MOP after topical PUVA treatment of patients with palmoplantar psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Psoriasis Day Treatment Center, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center 94143-0316.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Koo
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004485:Eczema / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D008730:Methoxsalen