PUVA therapy and narrowband UVB therapy in Tunisian patients with mycosis fungoides.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

PUVA therapy and narrowband UVB therapy (NBUVB) constitute a widely used first line therapy in mycosis fungoides (MF).

METHODS:

It is a retrospective study dealing with 7 patients with MF treated by phototherapy [3 with PUVA (III, IV, V phototype) and 4 with NBUVB (III-IV phototype)]. One patient had both treatments (PUVA then NBUVB for a relapse).

RESULTS:

Complete response (CR) was achieved in 2 of the 3 patients treated with PUVA (they had stage IB-MF). Both had relapsed after 40 sessions and 7 months later, respectively. Relapses were treated by PUVA maintenance treatment (2 sessions/2 weeks) and NBUVB leading to CR. The third patient (stage IIA) did not respond to PUVA. CR was obtained in the 5 patients treated with NBUVB (stage IA-IB), after a mean cumulative dose of 58.3 J/cm(2). No relapse was noted with NBUVB after a mean follow-up period of 13.2 months (extremes: 2 -31 months).

CONCLUSION:

NBUVB is only effective on non-infiltrated plaques independently of phototype. PUVA therapy is effective even on infiltrated plaques. Both treatments do not prevent relapses.

• Authors: Aida Khaled, Becima Fazaa, Samia Goucha, Faten Zeglaoui, Mohamed Ridha Kamoun
• Journal: Therapie (Therapie) 2009 Nov-Dec Vol. 64 Issue 6 Pg. 389-94 ISSN: 0040-5957 [Print] France
• PMID: 20025842 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mycosis Fungoides (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• PUVA Therapy
• Retrospective Studies
• Tunisia
• Ultraviolet Therapy