Comparison of psoralen-UVB and psoralen-UVA photochemotherapy in the treatment of psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
PUVA treatment of psoriasis is usually given with broad-band fluorescent UVA lamps. Narrow-band UVB exposure after oral methoxsalen has been shown to achieve a greater therapeutic response in psoriasis than identical UVB exposure given without psoralen.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare conventional PUVA with psoralen-UVB therapy in psoriasis.


METHODS
We studied 100 patients with plaque-type psoriasis who were randomly selected to receive either conventional psoralen-UVA or psoralen-UVB treatment.


RESULTS
No significant difference was found between the two treatments in the proportion of patients whose skin cleared during treatment or in the number of exposures required for clearance of psoriasis. As expected, the cumulative UV dose for clearance was smaller in the group treated with UVB compared with those receiving UVA. Side effects and disease status at 3 months after the end of treatment were similar for the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Psoralen-UVB treatment of psoriasis is as effective as conventional PUVA. The mechanism of psoralen-311 nm UVB action on psoriasis requires study to predict the long-term safety of this treatment.
de Berker
D A
DA
Department of Dermatology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Sakuntabhai
A
A
Diffey
B L
BL
Matthews
J N
JN
Farr
P M
PM
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D008730:Methoxsalen