title: Prolonged benefit following ultraviolet A phototherapy for solar urticaria.
abstract: Two patients with severe idiopathic solar urticaria, previously resistant to a variety of therapies including plasma exchange, benefited from springtime courses of ultraviolet A (UVA) monotherapy. Sites which are normally exposed to sunlight were treated, in a cabinet fitted with Philips R-UVA lamps (emitting UVA and visible wavelengths, with peak at 350 nm), twice daily for 2-3 weeks. One patient has been treated in this way for 3, and the other for 2, consecutive years. Repeat monochromator phototesting 3 months after their latest courses of UVA showed a persistent reduction in severity of abnormal photosensitivity. Both patients describe a sustained improvement in their condition lasting over 6 months after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, U.K.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dawe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D014581:Urticaria / Q000517:prevention & control*