Susceptibility to UV-A and UV-B provocation does not correlate with disease severity of polymorphic light eruption.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether the ease of disease provocation by UV-A and/or UV-B radiation correlates with clinical features of polymorphic light eruption (PLE), including those indicative of disease severity.


METHODS
Intervention study.


METHODS
One hundred forty-three patients with PLE.


METHODS
Provocation testing with broadband UV-A and UV-B lamps. Additionally, a range of clinical characteristics of the disorder, including a 5-item PLE severity score, was assessed by questionnaire.


METHODS
Percentage of PLE rash induction by UV-A and UV-B provocation, differences between the skin types, and correlation between the results of provocation and a range of clinical characteristics of the disorder, including a 5-item PLE severity score.


RESULTS
Rash provocation was seen in 78.3% of patients after UV-A and in 46.7% after UV-B exposure. Neither UV-A nor UV-B provocation showed a significant association with the total 5-item severity score. The UV-B reactivity was associated with a high score on the severity item "number of months affected per year" (P = .04), whereas UV-A responsiveness showed a tendency for association with facial involvement (P = .06).


CONCLUSIONS
The objective assessment of UV-A or UV-B susceptibility in this large group of patients showed no significant relationship with clinical disease severity.
Janssens
Artiena Soe
AS
Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands. a.s.janssens@lumc.nl
Pavel
Stan
S
Ling
Tsui
T
Winhoven
Sandra Maria
SM
Anastasopoulou
Nikoletta
N
Stratigos
Alexander
A
Antoniou
Christina
C
Diepgen
Thomas
T
de Gruijl
Frank
F
Rhodes
Lesley Elisabeth
LE
D000328:Adult; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays