Prevalence study of dermatoses referred to the phototherapy unit at the Dermatology Service of the Clinics Hospital of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Phototherapy consists of exposure to ultraviolet radiation for therapeutic reasons. Radiation is already used in dermatological practice, and many studies have already proved the beneficial effect of UV light treatment for chronic inflammatory or lymphoproliferative skin diseases. The Dermatology Service of the Clinics Hospital of Porto Alegre (Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre) has been using phototherapy for a long time, and no official data have been described so far. OBJECTIVES:To study the prevalence of dermatoses referred to the phototherapy unit at the Clinics Hospital of Porto Alegre and describe the total number of patients who have already been referred to this sector and their phototype. METHODS:This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected through a review of the phototherapy patients' records (secondary data), which are available on a database of the Dermatology Service of the Clinics Hospital of Porto Alegre, from August 1997 to July 2011. RESULTS: A total of 653 records were analyzed. Phototype 3 was the most prevalent (n=313). Distribution of the prevalence of dermatoses referred to the phototherapy unit was as follows: vitiligo (279), psoriasis (255), cutaneous T-cell lymphoma/mycosis fungoides (29), graftversus-host disease (15), scleroderma (11), atopic dermatitis (10), alopecia areata (6), parapsoriasis (5), eczema (4), granuloma annulare (4), and others (35). As vitiligo and psoriasis were the two most prevalent dermatoses, they were analyzed separately, with no statistical difference in prevalence between them (P=0,177).CONCLUSIONS:Our findings are in accordance with the literature, showing that although phototherapy is still mostly indicated to treat psoriasis, it has been used to treat other dermatoses, since the results are promising.

Phototherapy: experience from a reference service

“…The prevalence of females and low phototypes was in agreement with the findings of Casara et al 4 and are possibly justified by a greater female concern with health and aesthetics and by the predominant ethnic profile in the region.…”

“…The prevalence of vitiligo and psoriasis as the dermatoses most treated with phototherapy was also in agreement with the literature. 4 , 5 …”

“…The most prevalent adverse effect revealed by our study and the combined use of phototherapy with other medications are also in agreement with the literature. 4 …”

Phototherapy in Scleroderma

“…Of 653 patients using phototherapy in a Brazilian clinic, 11 were there for scleroderma treatment [37]. In a multi-center response from 155 British pediatric physicians, PUVA was the most popular phototherapy modality (38%), followed by narrowband UVB (23%) and UVA1 (16%) for morphea [38].…”

Perfil Epidemiológico dos Pacientes em Tratamento na Unidade de Fototerapia do Serviço Dermatologia de um Hospital Universitário

“…1 Psoríase, vitiligo, linfoma cutâneo de células T, parapsoríase, dermatite atópica e outras dermatoses de caráter crônico podem ser tratadas com resultados satisfatórios. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Para melhores resultados, pode ser associada a outros medicamentos sistêmicos, como os retinóides, especialmente no caso de psoríase, e menos frequentemente ao metotrexato ou ciclosporina, visando controle das dermatoses com doses menores desses medicamentos. 3,7 São limitações da fototerapia a disponibilidade do equipamento, adesão do paciente, e considerações clínicas, como a dose cumulativa total dos raios UV e suas consequências.…”