title: Epidermal changes during UVB phototherapy assessed by multiphoton laser tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiphoton laser tomography (MPT) is a non-invasive technique that allows imaging of skin in vivo with very high spatial resolution and contrast. Previous work of our group has demonstrated that known morphological changes due to erythematogenic ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation may be imaged in vivo by MPT. The present work investigated if morphological skin changes known from experimental erythematogenic UVB irradiation are also demonstrable in the course of a standard phototherapy regime that implies suberythematogenic doses of narrow band UVB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with psoriasis vulgaris receiving a narrow band phototherapy were included. A test field and a light-protected control field were measured with the multiphoton tomograph DermaInspect®at four time points: at baseline, the next day, after 3 days and at the day of the last exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the course of the UVB phototherapy, spongiosis and pleomorphy as parameters of inflammation and cellular damage did not show significant changes. By contrast, an adaptive skin reaction with significant changes of keratosis and pigmentation was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPT is a suitable technique for the investigation of qualitative and quantitative skin changes after UVB irradiation. After suberythematogenic UVB irradiation, photoadaptive skin changes, but no cellular damage can be observed with MPT.
authors: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany. koehler@med.uni-jena.de.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Koehler
authors: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany.|ENT Department, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kellner
authors: Department of Dermatology, SRH Waldklinikum Gera, Gera, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kaatz
authors: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors: U-C
authors: UC
authors: Hipler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004817:Epidermis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D041622:Tomography, Optical / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: UVB phototherapy; autofluorescence; hyperkeratosis; multiphoton; pigmentation; skin