title: Narrowband ultraviolet B (311 nm, TL01) phototherapy in chronic ordinary urticaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic ordinary urticaria (COU) can severely reduce quality of life and be difficult to control. Ultraviolet (UV) A and UVB phototherapy has been reported to decrease the release of histamine from either mast cells and/or basophils. Previous small studies have suggested that UVB phototherapy is a good alternative treatment for COU.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy for COU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients (three male, 19 female) received NB-UVB phototherapy. These patients had not responded to at least two H1 antihistamines, and most had been treated with a variety of antihistamine combinations. Clinical responses were assessed according to an outcome scoring scale. During both visits, patients were administered the following: the visual analogue scale (VAS) on present pruritus and/or whealing; chronic urticaria impact on patients' quality of life according to the interference with daily activities, quality of sleep, and flare-up rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median number of treatments was 31.4 (9-44), and the mean top dose was 9.46 J/cm(2) (1.1-16.4 J/cm(2)). NB-UVB treatment led to clearance in 10 patients (45%), marked improvement in five (22%), and moderate improvement in seven (31%) patients according to an outcome scoring scale. Mild side effects were observed in two patients. Six patients who cleared or observed marked improvement remained clear at follow-up for a period of six months to one year, and other patients had a few recurrent lesions that did not need retreatment. For VAS scores and total chronic urticaria impact on patients' quality of life scores, the differences between baseline and after treatment scores were significantly lower (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) therapy is an effective, well-tolerated treatment option in second-line therapy for COU. This therapy can lead to subjective relief of pruritus and whealing and objective reduction of whealing. Further larger studies with longer follow-up periods are necessary to determine the proper clinical response and long-term complications of this therapy in COU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Uludag University, Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey. aydogank@uludag.edu.tr
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aydogan
authors.forename: Serap Koran
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Karadogan
authors.forename: Sukran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tunali
authors.forename: Hayriye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saricaoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006633:Histamine Antagonists