Cream psoralen plus ultraviolet A therapy for granuloma annulare.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Treatment modalities for granuloma annulare (GA) often remain unsatisfactory or can be accompanied by potentially hazardous side-effects. Psoralen plus ultraviolet (UV) A (PUVA) bath photochemotherapy has been reported to be highly effective in the treatment of GA. Another form of topical PUVA therapy, using 8-methoxypsoralen-containing cream or gel preparations, has been proven to be as effective as bath PUVA therapy in the treatment of palmoplantar dermatoses.

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the efficacy of cream PUVA photochemotherapy in patients with GA.

METHODS:

Five patients with GA were treated. The diagnosis was confirmed by pretreatment skin biopsies. Cream PUVA therapy was performed four times a week: the mean number of treatments was 26 (range 17-40) and mean cumulative UVA dose was 55.9 J cm-2 (range 18.2-109.2).

RESULTS:

Cream PUVA photochemotherapy induced significant clinical improvement (one patient) or clearance (four patients) of GA in all patients. Clearance was documented clinically and histopathologically.

CONCLUSIONS:

Cream PUVA phototherapy can be highly effective in patients affected by localized forms of GA.

• Authors: M Grundmann-Kollmann, F R Ochsendorf, T M Zollner, I Tegeder, R Kaufmann, M Podda
• Journal: The British journal of dermatology (Br J Dermatol) Vol. 144 Issue 5 Pg. 996-9 (May 2001) ISSN: 0007-0963 [Print] England
• PMID: 11359387 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Photosensitizing Agents
• Methoxsalen

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adult
• Aged
• Female
• Granuloma Annulare (drug therapy, pathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Methoxsalen (administration & dosage)
• Middle Aged
• PUVA Therapy (methods)
• Photosensitizing Agents (administration & dosage)