title: Comparative study of systemic psoralen and ultraviolet A and narrowband ultraviolet B in treatment of chronic urticaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous success rates of psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) and narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) in the treatment of chronic urticaria are reported in few studies with no previous reports on the comparable efficacy of both modalities in the disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to compare the efficacy of PUVA versus NB-UVB in the treatment of chronic urticaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with chronic urticaria were included and divided into two groups: 12 patients subjected to PUVA and 12 subjected to NB-UVB. They were compared according to the urticaria Total Severity Score (TSS) before and after treatment, cumulative dose, and side effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant decrease in urticaria TSS in both the NB-UVB- and PUVA-treated groups after than before treatment (P < 0.05), with no significant difference between both groups regarding the percentage of improved patients and the mean decrease of urticaria TSS (P > 0.05). Gastrointestinal upset was reported at a significantly higher percentage in the PUVA-treated group than in the NB-UVB-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both NB-UVB and PUVA show comparable efficacy in the treatment of chronic urticaria with minimal reversible side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Naziha Hafez
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Khafagy
authors.forename: Samar Abdallah M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: Enas Guirguis
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Ghaly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005363:Ficusin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D005363:Ficusin