title: Does narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy work in atopic dermatitis through a local or a systemic effect?
abstract: The likely mechanisms of action of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) in atopic dermatitis are several. We attempted, in a 12 patient prospective intraindividually controlled study, to determine whether the effect of NB-UVB in atopic dermatitis is primarily through systemic or local effects. Change in observer-assessed severity of patches of dermatitis covered during each whole-body NB-UVB treatment was compared with change in uncovered neighbouring patches. We found great variation between patients in responses. Only in two (of 12) patients was there a large difference between directly exposed and covered patch dermatitis severity. We suspect that the balance of local and systemic effects important in determining response to NB-UVB in atopic dermatitis varies from patient to patient. This study did not conclusively answer our original question, but did show that in some patients localized effects of NB-UVB are important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yule
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dawe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ibbotson
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods