Treatment of psoriasis vulgaris with a synthetic metalloporphyrin and UVA light.

Abstract

Sn-protoporphyrin is a synthetic heme analogue which inhibits the catabolism of natural heme to bilirubin and can suppress a wide variety of experimentally induced or naturally occurring forms of jaundice in animals and man. Ten patients, 9 of whom were substantially or completely unresponsive to other forms of therapy, received 2.0 mumol/kg body weight of Sn-protoporphyrin on day 0 of this study followed by UVA light treatment for 21 days. Severity of psoriatic plaques, clinically scored (erythema 0-3; scaling, 0-3; infiltration, 0-3;) declined from a mean +/- score of 7 +/- 0.3 on day 0 to 3.6 +/- 0.7 on day 21. Psoriatic lesions were improved in all patients and in some the effect was dramatic. No deleterious side effects were registered. As shown in this study, one-day treatment with Sn-protoporphyrin followed by conventional UVA light treatment may be a useful therapeutic modality for psoriasis patients and merits further investigation.

• Authors: L Emtestam, L Berglund, B Angelin, A Kappas
• Journal: Acta dermato-venereologica. Supplementum (Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh)) Vol. 146 Pg. 107-10 ( 1989) ISSN: 0365-8341 [Print] Norway
• PMID: 2609850 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Metalloporphyrins
• Porphyrins
• Protoporphyrins
• tin protoporphyrin IX

Topics

• Adult
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Female
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Male
• Metalloporphyrins (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Porphyrins (therapeutic use)
• Protoporphyrins (therapeutic use)
• Psoriasis (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Ultraviolet Therapy (methods)