Premium
Psoralen–ultraviolet A therapy vs. psoralen–ultraviolet B therapy in the treatment of plaque‐type psoriasis: our experience with Fitzpatrick skin type IV
Author(s) -
Khurshid Khawar,
Haroon T. S.,
Hussain I.,
Pal S. S.,
Jahangir M.,
Zaman T.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2000.00913.x
Subject(s) - psoralen , psoriasis , medicine , puva therapy , dermatology , plaque psoriasis , methoxsalen , ultraviolet b , skin type , combination therapy , dna , genetics , biology
Background Oral psoralen, when combined with UVB, shows an increased response in psoriasis. In this study, conventional psoralen–UVA (PUVA) therapy was compared with psoralen–UVB (PUVB) therapy in plaque‐type psoriasis in patients with Fitzpatrick skin type IV. Patients and methods Equal numbers of patients with stable, plaque‐type psoriasis were treated with either PUVA ( n = 22) or PUVB ( n = 22), three times weekly until 90% clearance was achieved. A final evaluation was made 3 months later. Results The two groups showed no significant differences in terms of clearance of disease, mean number of exposures, or the average duration of therapy; however, the cumulative dose of UVB required for clearance was significantly lower than that of UVA. Both groups had a similar acute side‐effects' profile. Conclusions PUVB therapy is as effective as conventional PUVA in the treatment of stable, plaque‐type psoriasis in patients with Fitzpatrick skin type IV. A significantly lower dose of UVB is required for clearance as compared with UVA.