Is Phototherapy Useful in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Asian Children? A 5-Year Report from Singapore

Type:Uv phototherapy Time:2014-11-19 10:45:11

Is Phototherapy Useful in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Asian Children? A 5-Year Report from Singapore.

Mok ZR1, Koh MJ, Chong WS.

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Abstract

The goal of the current study was to review a cohort of Asian children with atopic dermatitis (AD) treated using phototherapy

at a tertiary dermatologic center in Singapore. We performed a retrospective review of patients younger than 16 years old

with a clinical diagnosis of AD treated with phototherapy at the National Skin Center, Singapore, over a 5-year period from

2004 to 2008. Twenty-five patients were identified who were ages 7 to 15 years at the time they underwent phototherapy, with

equal sex distribution. The duration of disease ranged from 2 to 14 years. Most patients had extensive disease involving more

than 70% of their body surface area. Fifteen patients were treated with narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) phototherapy, with

10 (66%) showing improvement of symptoms. The duration of therapy was 3 to 30 months (mean 11 mos), with a mean of 60

treatment sessions (range 12-104). Nine patients were treated with combined ultraviolet A (UVA) and NBUVB phototherapy. Five

patients (55%) improved, with four having good response and one having mild improvement. The duration of therapy was 1-6

months (mean 3.6 mos), with an average of 22 treatment sessions (range 10-44). Two patients underwent combined UVA/broad-band

UVB (BBUVB) phototherapy. Both had worsening of disease requiring cessation of treatment. Phototherapy is a useful adjunct in

the treatment of moderate to severe AD in children. More than half of the patients treated with NBUVB or combined UVA and

NBUVB improved with phototherapy, but the usefulness of combined UVA and BBUVB requires further evaluation.

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