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.