Oral retinoid and UVB radiation: a new, alternative treatment for psoriasis on an out-patient basis

• Published in: Acta dermato-venereologica Vol. 59; no. 3; pp. 241 - 244
• Main Authors: Orfanos, C E, Steigleder, G K, Pullmann, H, Bloch, P H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden 1979
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Drug Evaluation; Humans; Photochemotherapy; Psoriasis - drug therapy; Tretinoin - administration & dosage; Tretinoin - therapeutic use; Ultraviolet Therapy; Vitamin A - analogs & derivatives
• ISSN: 0001-5555; 1651-2057
• DOI: 10.2340/0001555559241244

The combined application of an oral retinoid (Ro 10-9359) and phototherapy with predominantly UVB radiation (Selective Ultraviolet Phototherapy=SUP) is a new, highly effective method of treating psoriasis. It has few side effects and can be performed on an out-patient basis. With the aid of this combined treatment we achieved good or very good improvement in 19 out of 23 patients with generalized psoriasis (=82.6%). The average number of radiation sessions required to achieve this was 22.9, and the mean total therapeutic dose (TTD) was 73 J/cm2. In a control group of 40 psoriasis patients, who received only radiation therapy, we achieved good or very good results in only 60% with an average of 26 radiation sessions and 94 J/cm2 TTD. The effect of the oral retinoid and UVB radiation therapy is apparently additive, since the retinoid does not increase the sensitivity of the skin to light.