title: Pilot evaluation of supra-erythemogenic phototherapy with excimer laser in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phototherapy is an effective treatment for generalized plaque psoriasis, but is inconvenient and dosimetry is limited by the minimal erythema dose (MED).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of excimer laser utilizing a supra-erythemogenic phototherapy strategy (phototherapy well beyond the MED dose) to treat generalized psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this 9-month study, 13 patients with psoriasis involving > 10% but < 30% body surface area received laser treatment twice weekly for 12 weeks, with 6 months of post-treatment follow-up. The primary endpoint was percentage of patients achieving Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 12 patients who completed the treatment phase, 54% achieved PASI 75. During the 6-month follow-up period 83% maintained PASI 50 with no treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study had a small sample size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The laser is an effective treatment with a favorable remission rate. With enhanced power in the near future, laser is likely to become more promising for generalized psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Irvine School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gattu
authors.forename: Mei-Lin
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Rupa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pugashetti
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malick
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Elyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.forename: Jeffrey I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Levatter
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome