Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy starting and incremental dose in patients with psoriasis: comparison of percentage dose and fixed dose protocols.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: It was aimed to investigate the ideal narrowband ultraviolet B (NB UVB) phototherapy protocol that has the maximal efficacy, minimal side effect profile, minimal cumulative UVB dose, and a shorter duration of therapy.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients with psoriasis vulgaris were included in the study. The patients were divided into the percentage dose (group 1) and the fixed dose groups (group 2). In group 1, the initial NB UVB dose was 50% of the minimal erythema dose and 20% of the previous dose increase made in the next sessions, and in group 2, the starting dose and the dose increases were determined based on the skin types and applied with fixed doses.

RESULTS

Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 was achieved in 22 out of 27 (81.5%) patients in group 1, and in 19 out of 24 (79.2%) patients in group 2. The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.82). No statistically significant difference was found between the two regimens in the cumulative NB UVB dose, side effect profile, and the number of sessions with improvement of the initial PASI score by 90% (for all data, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These two treatment protocols were not superior to each other in terms of cumulative NB UVB dose, efficacy, total number of treatment sessions, and side effect profiles.