Comparison of phototherapy (UV-B) and photochemotherapy (PUVA) for clearing and maintenance therapy of psoriasis

Abstract

One hundred eighty-three patients with psoriasis were treated with UV-B irradiation or oral methoxsalen plus longwave UV light (PUVA). Patients treated with PUVA, in the initial and maintenance period, achieved in general a higher therapeutic score (95% to 100% clearance) than those receiving UV-B therapy. However, taking 80% to 100% improvement as criterion, no difference was found between initial UV-B and PUVA therapy, if less than 50% of the skin surface was affected by psoriasis. If more than 50% of the skin was involved, PUVA was better than UV-B therapy. The maintenance treatment frequency for the UV-B-treated patients for more than a year seemed to be higher than for PUVA-treated patients. A positive correlation was found between response to sunbathing (questionnaire survey) and the response to UV-B phototherapy. An extra UV-B treatment to the leg lesions appeared useless.

Seasonal variation of dermatologic disease in the USA: a study of office visits from 1990 to 1998

“…Conversely, 42% worsened in the winter, whilst only 7% improved 7 . Climate therapy has been reported to be an effective treatment for psoriasis, 30 as are modern treatments such as psoralen plus UVA light (PUVA) and UVB 31 . Cumulative sun exposure causes dyschromia, and thus more visits in spring seem logical.…”

Phototherapy of Psoriasis: Comparative Experience of Different Phototherapeutic Approaches

“…Van Weelden et al [13]and Boer et al [14]reported that PUVA treatment of psoriasis was more effective than broad-band UVB phototherapy. In the present study, we found no statistically significant difference comparing the efficacy of bath-PUVA therapy (CR in 72.4%), systemic PUVA (CR in 89.5%) and UVB phototherapy (CR in 69.1%) in clearing moderate to severe chronic plaque-type psoriasis.…”

Narrowband UV-B Phototherapy vs Photochemotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Plaque-Type Psoriasis

“…Comparative studies have shown that PUVA is therapeutically more effective than broadband UV-B radiation. [1][2][3][4] Conversely, treatment with UV-B is much easier to perform, requires less precautions to prevent acute adverse reactions, and seems to harbor a considerably lower carcinogenic potential than PUVA. [5][6][7] Based on these differences, broadband UV-B phototherapy is primarily indicated in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis, whereas for severe forms of PUVA is indicated.…”