Narrowband UVB phototherapy for small plaque parapsoriasis

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 573 - 577
• Main Authors: Aydogan, K, Karadogan, SK, Tunali, S, Adim, SB, Ozcelik, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; narrowband UVB phototherapy; parapsoriasis; Parapsoriasis - radiotherapy; Recurrence; Treatment Outcome; Ultraviolet Therapy - methods
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01567.x
• ISSN: 0926-9959

Background  Narrowband UVB (NB‐UVB) phototherapy has been shown to be effective for the treatment of various dermatoses. Objective  To analyze the effects of NB‐UVB phototherapy for small plaque parapsoriasis (SPP). Methods  The response of 45 patients (24 females, 21 males, age range 20–58 years) with histologically confirmed SPP were assessed. NB‐UVB therapy was given 3–4 times weekly. The initial treatment dose was 70% of the minimal erythema dose. The doses were increased gradually with a standard increment of 20/10/0. Clinical response was determined as follows: complete response (CR), at least 90% clearing of skin lesions; partial response (PR), at least 50% but less than 90% clearing and no response (NR), less than 50% clearing. The follow‐up period was 6–24 months after the treatment. Results  NB‐UVB treatment led to CR in 33 of 45 patients (73.3%) with a mean cumulative dose of 14.3 J/cm2 (range 3.2–24.1 J/cm2) after a mean number of 29 exposures (range 16–51 sessions); PR in 12 of 45 (26.6%) with a cumulative dose of 15.6 J/cm2 (range 10.4–23.3 J/cm2) after a mean number of 29.4 exposures (range 25–50 sessions). Nineteen patients with CR had skin phototype II, 13 had type III and 1 had type I. Among the patients with PR, 7 had skin phototype II and 5 had type III. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was observed in 51% of the patients. Relapses occurred in six patients within a mean time of 7.5 months (2–12 months). Conclusion  NB‐UVB phototherapy has several advantages over treatment with broadband UVB and PUVA. NB‐UVB therapy for patients with SPP is an effective, safe and practical alternative treatment modality. Further larger studies with longer follow‐up periods are necessary to determine the proper clinical response and long‐term complications of NB‐UVB therapy in this disease.