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Efficacy of bath psoralen plus ultraviolet A ( PUVA ) vs. system PUVA in psoriasis: a prospective, open, randomized, multicentre study
Author(s) -
Berneburg M.,
Herzinger T.,
Rampf J.,
Hoetzenecker W.,
Guenova E.,
Meisner C.,
Maetzke J.,
Schaefer T.,
Eberlein B.,
ScharffetterKochanek K.,
Rocken M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.12466
Subject(s) - psoriasis , psoralen , puva therapy , medicine , dermatology , psoriasis area and severity index , population , plaque psoriasis , dna , genetics , environmental health , biology
Summary Background Plaque psoriasis is an inflammatory disease affecting approximately 2% of the population. The clinical hallmarks of psoriasis are sharply demarcated, erythematous plaques with thick scales. Photochemotherapy (psoralen plus ultraviolet A , PUVA ) is one of the most effective therapies of psoriasis. The photosensitizer 8‐methoxypsoralen (8‐ MOP ) can be applied either orally (system PUVA ) or topically in a warm water bath (bath PUVA ). Objectives To compare bath PUVA and system PUVA in the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Methods This was a randomized, open, prospective, multicentre trial. We included 74 patients with moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis during a 6‐week treatment and a 4‐week follow‐up period. Of the patients enrolled in the study, 38 received bath PUVA and 36 system PUVA . Results Both treatment modalities significantly reduced the median P soriasis A rea and S everity I ndex ( PASI ) score in the intention‐to‐treat population. Within 6 weeks bath PUVA reduced the median PASI by 74% (16·4 to 4·2) while system PUVA did so by 62% (15·3 to 5·8). The difference between the two modalities was not significant with regard to treatment efficacy ( P = 0·389). Conclusion There is no difference between bath PUVA and system PUVA in the treatment of psoriasis.