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Broad-band UVB alone or in combination with different topical drugs (anthralin, calcipotriol), systemic PUVA and 

bath-PUVA therapy are very effective and well-established treatment modalities for psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess which of these routinely applied phototherapeutic modalities might 

be most effective and safe for the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis.

METHODS:

Patients (n = 203) with moderate to severe (pretreatment Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score between 12 and 35) 

chronic plaque-type psoriasis treated between 1992 and 1998 at our department with either UVB (with/without anthralin 

or calcipotriol; n = 97), systemic PUVA (n = 19) or bath-PUVA therapy (n = 87) were evaluated for efficacy, duration 

of treatment, number of treatments necessary for complete remission (CR), cumulative light dose, side effects of 

therapy and duration of remission after therapy.

RESULTS:

No statistically significant difference comparing the efficacy of bath-PUVA (CR in 72.4%), PUVA (CR in 89.5%) and UVB 

phototherapy (CR in 69.1%) was found. Although the duration of therapy was significantly longer for bath-PUVA (66 +/- 

42 days) as compared to UVB treatment (50 +/- 27 days), the mean number of treatments did not differ significantly 

between bath-PUVA (28 +/- 12), UVB therapy (30 +/- 12) and PUVA (26 +/- 13). Significantly fewer side effects of 

phototherapy were observed with bath-PUVA (14.9%) therapy compared to UVB treatment (30.9%). Also, the duration of 

remission after successful therapy was significantly longer for bath-PUVA (8.4 +/- 3.5 months) as compared to UVB 

phototherapy (5.1 +/- 4.2 months).

CONCLUSION:

Bath-PUVA therapy has some advantages over UVB phototherapy in the treatment of psoriasis: fewer UV-related acute side 

effects and a longer period of remission after therapy. However, the choice of treatment with either UVB, bath-PUVA or 

systemic PUVA should also be based on a history of previous response to treatment and patient considerations, 

including compliance and responsibility for following the precautions to avoid potential side effects.

www.kerneluvb.com----The leader manufacturer of UVB Phototherapy.