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Prophylactic PUVA and UVB therapy in polymorphic light eruption—a controlled trial
Author(s) -
MURPHY G.M.,
LOGAN R.A.,
LOVELL C.R.,
MORRIS R.W.,
HAWK J.L.M.,
MAGNUS I.A.
Publication year - 1987
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/j.1365-2133.1987.tb05874.x
Subject(s) - medicine , psoralen , dermatology , puva therapy , erythema , methoxsalen , phototoxicity , placebo , rash , ultraviolet a , ultraviolet light , ultraviolet b radiation , psoriasis , ultraviolet radiation , pathology , dna , in vitro , biology , radiochemistry , biochemistry , chemistry , genetics , alternative medicine , photochemistry
SUMMARY A double‐blind controlled trial of low‐dose prophylactic oral psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA) and ultraviolet‐B (UVB) irradiation therapy was undertaken from April to September 1983 in 42 patients with polymorphic light eruption (PLE). Patients were randomly allocated to three groups, PUVA with oral 8‐methoxypsoralen (8‐MOP), UVB with oral placebo, and control low‐dose UVA with oral placebo. The initial dose given to each active treatment group was a third of the predetermined minimal phototoxic or erythema dose, followed three times weekly for 6 weeks by doses incremented by an eighth on each occasion in the PUVA group and by a seventh in the UVB group. Ultraviolet radiation exposure was monitored throughout with polysulphone film lapel badges. Patients recorded their symptoms on a visual analogue scale. Symptoms of rash and itch in patients treated with PUVA and UVB were significantly less affected by increasing exposure to ultraviolet radiation than were these symptoms in control patients.