Oral methoxsalen photochemotherapy for the treatment of psoriasis: a cooperative clinical trial.

TitleOral methoxsalen photochemotherapy for the treatment of psoriasis: a cooperative clinical trial.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1977
AuthorsMelski JW, Tanenbaum L, Parrish JA, Fitzpatrick TB, Bleich HL
JournalJ Invest Dermatol
Volume68
Issue6
Pagination328-35
Date Published1977 Jun
ISSN0022-202X
KeywordsAdministration, Oral, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, Child, Preschool, Erythema, Female, Humans, Male, Methoxsalen, Middle Aged, Nausea, Pruritus, Psoriasis, Ultraviolet Therapy, Vision Tests
Abstract

Extensive psoriasis in 1,308 patients has been treated two or three times a week with oral 8-methoxypsoralen followed by high intensity, long-wave ultraviolet light (PUVA). Excluding 169 patients still under early treatment, psoriasis cleared in 88% and failed to clear in 3%. One percent dropped out due to complications of treatment, and 8% for other reasons. The twice-a-week schedule was superior for patients with lighter skin types. Once a remission was induced, there was no difference in its maintenance when patients were treated once a week, once every other week, or once every third week. Each of these schedules was superior to no maintenance treatment. Immediate side effect of the 45,000 treatments administered in the first 18 months of this study were uncommon, temporary, and generally mild. No clinically significant changes in laboratory screening or eye examinations attributable to PUVA have been uncovered.

DOI10.1111/1523-1747.ep12496022
Alternate JournalJ Invest Dermatol
PubMed ID864273