title: Recovery of the response to biological treatments using narrow band ultraviolet-B in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis: a retrospective study of 17 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biological therapy has demonstrated a very satisfactory anti-psoriatic effect; however, the loss of response with time has been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of the narrow band ultraviolet-B phototherapy (NB-UVB) as a rescue in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who have lost efficacy in their biological treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review study was conducted on patients with moderate to severe psoriasis receiving treatment with a biologic, with a good initial response that subsequently had lost efficacy. All the patients received combined treatment with NB-UVB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients were included, with a mean age of 44 years. The biologics were: 8 etanercept, 4 adalimumab, 3 ustekinumab, 1 efalizumab, and 1 infliximab. The mean NB-UVB sessions was 25 (7-48 sessions), with a mean accumulated dose of 31.12 J/cm(2) (5.2-94.6 J/cm(2) ). Sixteen patients had the following results: 44% PASI 90-100, 31.3% PASI 75-89, and 25% PASI 50-74 response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to this study on clinical practice, it could be considered that the use of NB-UVB along with biological drugs that have lost efficacy in controlling moderate to severe psoriasis in adults could contribute to the recovery of the initial response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Department of Clinical Medicine, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Belinchón
authors.forename: María Paloma
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Arribas
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soro
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Betlloch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal
keywords: biologic treatment; combined therapy; phototherapy; psoriasis; recovery of the response