title: Narrowband ultraviolet-B phototherapy in pityriasis lichenoides chronica.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current knowledge about the efficacy of narrowband UVB therapy for the treatment of pityriasis lichenoides is limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of narrowband UVB therapy for the treatment of pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrospectively collected following a review of patient phototherapy and medical charts, and telephone interviews were performed for follow-up information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 25 patients (14 male, 11 female) with a mean age of 34 +/- 13 years. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination in 92% (n = 23) of the patients. The median duration of the disease was 24 months (range: 2-192 months). The median number of sessions until response was 25 (8 weeks) (range: 9-77 sessions), with a median cumulative dose of 15 J/cm(2) (range: 2-158 J/cm(2)). Complete response and partial response were achieved in 48% and 44% of the patients, respectively, while 8% of the patients achieved no response. In those patients for whom follow-up data were available (n = 17), 10 (58%) relapsed within a median of 9.5 months (range: 1-44 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that narrowband UVB is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for PLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. sevans@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ersoy-Evans
authors.forename: Asli Altaykan
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hapa
authors.forename: Gonca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boztepe
authors.forename: Sedef
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Fikret
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kölemen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D017514:Pityriasis Lichenoides / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult