PUVA-cream photochemotherapy for the treatment of localized scleroderma.
BACKGROUND
The efforts to treat localized scleroderma, including therapies with potentially hazardous side effects, are often unsatisfactory. Recently, PUVA-bath photochemotherapy has been proven highly effective in the treatment of localized scleroderma. Another form of topical PUVA therapy, 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) containing cream or gel preparations, has been proven to be as effective as PUVA-bath therapy for palmoplantar dermatoses.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess the efficacy of PUVA-cream photochemotherapy in patients with localized scleroderma.


METHODS
Four patients with localized scleroderma were included in the study. Diagnosis was confirmed by 20 MHz ultrasound assessment as well as pretreatment skin biopsy specimens from lesional skin. PUVA-cream therapy was performed 4 times a week; all patients received 30 treatments.


RESULTS
PUVA-cream photochemotherapy induced significant clinical improvement or clearance of localized scleroderma in all patients. Clearance was documented by clinical features as well as by 20 MHz ultrasound and histopathologic analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
PUVA-cream phototherapy can be highly effective in patients with localized scleroderma even if previous therapy was unsuccessful.
Grundmann-Kollmann
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
Ochsendorf
F
F
Zollner
T M
TM
Spieth
K
K
Sachsenberg-Studer
E
E
Kaufmann
R
R
Podda
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004304:Dosage Forms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D004304:Dosage Forms