Premium
Tomesa balneophototherapy in mild to severe psoriasis: a retrospective clinical trial in 174 patients
Author(s) -
Cattaneo Angelo,
Alberti Violetti Silvia,
Tavecchio Simona,
Bruni Elena,
Carrera Carlo,
Crosti Carlo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2012.00659.x
Subject(s) - psoriasis , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , retrospective cohort study , dermatology life quality index , anxiety , distress , psychological distress , physical therapy , depression (economics) , dermatology , psychiatry , clinical psychology , nursing , macroeconomics , economics
Summary Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a high social and psychological impact on the quality of life of patients. Tomesa balneophototherapy is based on bathing in a magnesium‐rich salt solution combined with exposure to narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy. We conducted a retrospective clinical trial on 174 patients affected by mild to severe psoriasis undergoing T omesa balneophototherapy. The basal course consisted of three to five sessions per week for a total of 30 sessions. Subsequently, patients could continue with a maintenance course of one session per week for a total of 30 sessions. We recorded a significant reduction of the mean P soriasis A rea and S everity I ndex ( PASI ) index with an achievement of at least PASI 75 in 52.1% of the 119 patients who completed the basal course and an improvement of the ‘quality of life’ of patients. The good efficacy obtained by this treatment, and the psychological impact on the quality of life of patients, demonstrated that T omesa balneophototherapy could be a good option for the treatment of a chronic disease associated with psychological distress, like psoriasis.