Treatment of localized persistent plaque psoriasis with incoherent narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the efficacy of targeted UVB phototherapy treatment of chronic persistent psoratic plaques with localized incoherent UVB phototherapy.


METHODS
Sixteen subjects were enrolled. The final group was composed of eight men and seven women, each having one to seven chronic, stable psoriatic plaques. Each plaque was treated with fluences ranging from 3 to 7 MED using a fibre-coupled incoherent phototherapy device twice weekly for a maximum of 13 sessions. Assessments with a combination of three scores, each on a scale from 0 to 4, for scaling, erythema and induration (SEI score) were performed.


RESULTS
The patients received from 6 to 13 sessions (mean 9.6). The SEI score decreased by 3.3 (p = 0.01). This reduction was equally detected in all subscores. In a few patients, blistering and burning sensation after some sessions were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Localized UVB phototherapy is an effective treatment option for persistent plaques of psoriasis. Compared with conventional UVB, localized phototherapy has the added safety benefit of virtually eliminating unwanted exposure of the healthy tissue to UVB.
Toll
Agustí
A
Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Mar, IMAS, Barcelona, Spain. atoll@imas.imim.es
Vélez-González
Mariano
M
Gallardo
Fernando
F
Gilaberte
Montserrat
M
Pujol
Ramón M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*