title: Treatment of chronic urticaria with narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Data regarding narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy in patients with chronic urticaria is limited. The aim of this open, controlled study was to determine whether NB-UVB is effective in treating urticaria in combination with antihistamin. A total of 81 patients with chronic urticaria were recruited, 48 of whom were randomized into the NB-UVB plus antihistamine group. The control group (n = 33) received only antihistamine. Patients were assessed using the urticaria activity score and a visual analogue score (VAS). The 2 groups were evaluated at the same time-points: at treatment sessions 10 and 20 and at follow-up 3 months post-treatment. The reduction in urticaria activity score and VAS was statistically significant (p < 0.05 for both groups). When comparing the groups, the mean urticaria activity score was significantly lower in the NB-UVB group at session 10 (22.6 vs. 27.3) and session 20 (17.4 vs. 20.7). Statistically significant differences were also noted in VAS between the 2 groups (p < 0.01) at 3 months post-treatment. We conclude that NB-UVB may be an effective complementary treatment for patients with chronic urticaria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Meram Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey. burhanengin2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Burhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engin
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balevi
authors.forename: Inci
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mevlitoğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; C472067:levocetirizine; D017332:Cetirizine