High-dose UVA1 therapy for atopic dermatitis: results of a multicenter trial.
BACKGROUND
The results of an open, single-center study suggested that phototherapy with high doses of UVA1 radiation (UVA1R; 340-400 nm) is effective for acute, severe exacerbations of atopic dermatitis (AD).


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of high-dose UVA1 phototherapy for acute, severe AD in a randomized multicenter trial in direct comparison with topical glucocorticoid therapy.


METHODS
Patients were treated with high-dose UVA1R (10 days, 130 J/cm2/day; n = 20), topically with fluocortolone (10 days, 1 x daily; n = 17), or with UVA-UVB therapy (10 days, 1 x daily, minimal erythema dose-dependent; n = 16).


RESULTS
With a clinical scoring system, significant differences in favor of high-dose UVA1R and fluocortolone therapy were observed (p < 0.0001), as compared with UVA-UVB therapy. At day 10, high-dose UVA1R was superior to fluocortolone (p < 0.002) therapy. Serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein and the blood eosinophil count were significantly reduced after high-dose UVA1 or fluocortolone, but not UVA-UVB therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the therapeutic effectiveness of high-dose UVA1 monotherapy for treatment of severe exacerbations of AD.
Krutmann
J
J
Department of Dermatology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Diepgen
T L
TL
Luger
T A
TA
Grabbe
S
S
Meffert
H
H
Sönnichsen
N
N
Czech
W
W
Kapp
A
A
Stege
H
H
Grewe
M
M
Schöpf
E
E
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005448:Fluocortolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D005448:Fluocortolone