In a pilot study of
extracorporeal photochemotherapy, two patients with
systemic sclerosis who received this
therapy experienced significant clinical improvement. These results prompted the development of a multicenter trial to examine the benefit of
extracorporeal photochemotherapy in the treatment of
systemic sclerosis. Seventy-nine patients with
systemic sclerosis of recent onset (mean symptom duration, 1.83 years) and progressive skin involvement during the preceding 6 months entered a randomized, parallel-group, single-blinded clinical trial comparing
extracorporeal photochemotherapy treatments given on 2 consecutive days monthly with treatment with
D-penicillamine at a maximum dose of 750 mg/d. Blinded clinical examiners evaluated skin severity score (thickness), percent surface area involvement, oral aperture, and hand closure. Serial skin biopsies and pulmonary function studies were also performed.
RESULTS: Following 6 months of treatment, significant improvement in skin severity score occurred in 21 (68%) of 31 patients receiving
photochemotherapy and in eight (32%) of 25 receiving
D-penicillamine treatment, while significant worsening occurred in three (10%) of 31 receiving
photochemotherapy and in eight (32%) of 25 receiving
penicillamine treatment, thus indicating a significantly higher response rate for individuals who received
photochemotherapy (P = .02). At both the 6- and 10-month evaluation points, the mean skin severity score, mean percent skin involvement, and mean oral aperture measurements were significantly improved from baseline among those who received
photochemotherapy. Mean right and left hand closure measurements had also improved significantly by 10 months of
therapy. By comparison, among the patients treated with
D-penicillamine, none of the parameters of cutaneous disease had improved significantly after 6 months of
therapy, although for those individuals in whom treatment was continued, the mean skin severity score and mean percent skin involvement had improved by 10 months. Skin biopsy studies revealed a correlation between clinical improvement and decreased thickness of the dermal layer. Adverse effects of
extracorporeal photochemotherapy were minimal and did not require discontinuation of treatment in any of the patients receiving this
therapy; six patients permanently discontinued the use of
D-penicillamine treatment due to adverse effects.
CONCLUSIONS: