title: Narrowband (TL-01) ultraviolet B phototherapy for pruritus in polycythaemia vera.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are several reports of the efficacy of broadband ultraviolet (UV) phototherapy in the treatment of pruritus associated with polycythaemia vera.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether narrowband (TL-01) UVB phototherapy is also effective in treating this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with pruritus associated with polycythaemia vera were treated with narrowband (TL-01) UVB phototherapy. The first irradiation dose was 2/3 of the minimal erythema dose; the treatment schedule consisted of three irradiation sessions per week, with dose increments of 10% each session for skin types I and II, and 15% for skin types III and IV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients reported a marked relief of symptoms after an average of six treatments (median cumulative dose 1851.52 mJ cm-2, range 1180.4-2468.4). A complete remission of the pruritus occurred within 2-10 weeks of treatment (median cumulative dose 5371.46 mJ cm-2, range 3271.2-7336.3) in eight of 10 patients. Two patients had only a partial and temporary relief of pruritus after two cycles of treatment and a cumulative dose of 3271.2 mJ cm-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Narrowband UVB phototherapy is effective for treatment of pruritus associated with polycythaemia vera, and has the advantage of being less erythemogenic than broadband UVB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sammarco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plaitano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.lastname: Monfrecola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000150:complications*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*