Low-dose ultraviolet A1 phototherapy for extragenital lichen sclerosus: results of a preliminary study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in which numerous therapies have been used, with only limited success. Because low-dose UVA1 phototherapy has been shown to be an effective treatment option for localized scleroderma, which shares several similar clinical and histologic features with LS, we initiated a clinical trial with this phototherapeutic modality in patients with LS.

METHODS:

Ten patients suffering from extragenital LS were treated with low-dose UVA1 phototherapy 4 times weekly with single UVA1 doses of 20 J/cm(2). Forty treatment sessions were performed within 10 weeks, resulting in a cumulative UVA1 dose of 800 J/cm(2).

RESULTS:

Low-dose UVA1 phototherapy resulted in a marked reduction of the clinical score and a significant (P <.05) decrease of ultrasonographically measured skin thickness as well as a highly significant (P <.001) increase of dermal density. The patients reported a remarkable softening and repigmentation of the affected skin.

CONCLUSION:

Analogous to the treatment results in localized scleroderma, low-dose UVA1 phototherapy seems to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for extragenital LS.

• Authors: Alexander Kreuter, Thilo Gambichler, Annelies Avermaete, Marcus Happe, Martina Bacharach-Buhles, Klaus Hoffmann, Thomas Jansen, Peter Altmeyer, Gregor von Kobyletzki
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (J Am Acad Dermatol) Vol. 46 Issue 2 Pg. 251-5 (Feb 2002) ISSN: 0190-9622 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11807437 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Child
• Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Lichen Planus (pathology, radiotherapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Probability
• Radiation Dosage
• Skin (drug effects, pathology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Ultraviolet Therapy (methods)