A comparison of three times vs. five times weekly narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is an effective treatment for psoriasis.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of three and five times weekly NB-UVB phototherapy in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis.


METHODS
Sixty-five patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were allocated to receive three or five times weekly NB-UVB, starting at low dose.


RESULTS
Among the patients who completed the study, clearance was achieved in 18 out of 23 patients (78%) in the three times weekly group and in 15 out of 22 patients (68%) in the five times weekly group. The difference was not statistically significant (P=0.44). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in the number of treatments (P=0.95), cumulative UVB dose (P=0.51), and rate of side-effects. Length of the treatment period was significantly shorter in the five times weekly group (P<0.001). At the end of treatment, the mean psoriasis area and severity index score was lower in the three times weekly group (P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend three times weekly NB-UVB for chronic plaque psoriasis; however, the more rapid clearance of psoriasis with five times weekly phototherapy may justify using this method in some patients.
Hallaji
Zahra
Z
Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Barzegari
Masoumeh
M
Balighi
Kamran
K
Mansoori
Pouria
P
Taheri
Arash
A
Mansoori
Parisa
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy