Clinical and therapeutic aspects of polymorphous light eruption.
BACKGROUND
Polymorphous light eruption (PLE) is an idiopathic eruption induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation (UVR).


OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the clinical aspects, diagnostic criteria of PLE in a major Swiss referral center.


METHODS
25 patients with PLE were tested with a standardized protocol for the assessment of photodermatoses.


RESULTS
25 patients (22 women vs. 3 men) were identified. Papular and papular-vesicular eruptions were the most common clinical presentations. 6 of 25 patients had a reduced minimal erythema dose (MED) for UVA and 8 of 25 patients had a reduced MED for UVB. Photoprovocation was positive in 11 of 20 patients for UVA and 7 of 20 patients for UVB. Photohardening with narrow-band UVB was successful in 8 of 10 patients. Combined UVA/UVB therapy had a satisfactory effect in 10 of 15 patients. Narrow-band UVB therapy was still successful after ineffective UVA/UVB therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The MED was of no value for the diagnosis of PLE. The typical lesions were reproduced by UVA and UVB photoprovocation. We recommend photohardening with narrow-band UVB (311 nm).
Dummer
Reinhard
R
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. reinhard.dummer@der.usz.ch
Ivanova
Katya
K
Scheidegger
E Paul
EP
Burg
Günter
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017454:Dermatitis, Photoallergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
D013473:Sunscreening Agents