title: UVB therapy increases 25(OH) vitamin D syntheses in postmenopausal women with psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D3 is produced in the epidermis by ultraviolet (UV) radiation (290-315 nm) of 7-dehydrocholesterol. A similar range of 290-320 nm (broadband UVB) has been successfully used for years to treat psoriasis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether UVB therapy was able to influence vitamin D synthesis in psoriasis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four postmenopausal, white Caucasian women, aged 69 +/- 5.9 (mean +/- SD), with active plaque psoriasis, were treated with broadband UVB two to three times per week for 8-12 weeks. The serum concentrations of calcidiol (25(OH)D3), calcitriol (1,25(OH)2D3), intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), thyroid hormones, osteocalcin, calcium and creatinine were measured before the first and after the last dose of radiation. Bone density was measured using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (Hologic Delphi A) at the hip and lumbar spine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of 25(OH)D3 increased from 36.8 +/- 17 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) to 59.6 +/- 18.7 ng/ml (P<0.001) after the UVB treatment period. Serum PTH decreased from 62.8 +/- 25.7 ng/l to 48.2 +/- 17.4 ng/l (P<0.001). Secondary hyperparathyroidism (PTH>65 ng/l) was revealed in seven patients (29%) in whom PTH values were suppressed by the UVB therapy. The serum levels of calcitriol, calcium, osteocalcin, thyroid hormones and creatinine were unaltered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UVB therapy in elderly psoriatic women improved psoriasis, increased serum 25(OH)D3 synthesis and reduced serum PTH concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. Amra.Osmancevic@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Amra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osmancevic
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Landin-Wilhelmsen
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Larkö
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mellström
authors.forename: Ann-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wennberg
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hulthén
authors.forename: Anne-Lene
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Krogstad
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D010789:Phototherapy; D017698:Postmenopause; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays