Rhinophototherapy: a new therapeutic tool for the management of allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
Phototherapy has a profound immunosuppressive effect and is able to inhibit hypersensibility reactions in the skin.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated whether phototherapy using a combination of UV-B (5%), UV-A (25%), and visible light (70%), referred to as mUV/VIS, is effective in treating allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized, double-blind study, in 49 patients with hay fever. The study was performed during the ragweed season. Each intranasal cavity was illuminated 3 times a week for 3 weeks with mUV/VIS or with low-intensity visible light. Symptom scores, inflammatory cells, and their mediators were assessed in nasal lavages. In vitro effects of mUV/VIS irradiation on T-cell and eosinophil apoptosis and its inhibitory effect on mediator release from basophils were examined.


RESULTS
Rhinophototherapy was tolerated well and resulted in a significant improvement of clinical symptoms for sneezing (P < .016), rhinorrhea (P < .007), nasal itching (P < .014), and total nasal score (P < .004). None of the scores improved significantly in the control group. Scores for nasal obstruction slightly improved after mUV/VIS treatment and significantly increased in the control group (P < .017). In the nasal lavage, phototherapy significantly reduced the number of eosinophils and the level of eosinophil cationic protein and IL-5. In vitro irradiation of T cells and eosinophils with mUV/VIS light dose-dependently induced apoptosis. Furthermore, mUV/VIS irradiation inhibited the mediator release from RBL-2H3 basophils.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that phototherapy is an effective modality to treat allergic rhinitis and offer new options for the treatment of immune-mediated mucosal diseases.
Koreck
Andrea I
AI
Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Hungary. akoreck@yahoo.com
Csoma
Zsanett
Z
Bodai
Laszlo
L
Ignacz
Ferenc
F
Kenderessy
Anna Szabo
AS
Kadocsa
Edit
E
Szabo
Gabor
G
Bor
Zsolt
Z
Erdei
Anna
A
Szony
Barnabas
B
Homey
Bernhard
B
Dobozy
Attila
A
Kemeny
Lajos
L
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000528:radiation effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010789:Phototherapy; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays