Suberythemogenic narrow-band UVB is markedly more effective than conventional UVB in treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUND

Narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) is a new phototherapy option for psoriasis. Action spectrum studies previously done with different UVB wavelengths suggest that suberythemogenic doses of NB-UVB could be highly effective in treating psoriasis vulgaris. Even so, no comparative studies with suberythemogenic doses of NB versus conventional UVB have been performed previously.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to compare conventional broad-band UVB (BB-UVB) with NB-UVB at suberythemogenic doses for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.

METHODS

Eleven patients were treated using a split-body approach for 6 weeks on a three-times-a-week basis. Outcomes were evaluated by means of Psoriasis Severity Index scores and quantitative histologic measures.

RESULTS

We were able to induce clinical clearing in 81.8% of patients after NB-UVB, but in only 9.1% of patients after BB-UVB (P < .01). Biopsy specimens obtained at the end of treatment revealed that keratin 16 staining was absent in 75% of patients on the NB side compared with none on the BB side, suggesting a reversal of regenerative epidermal hyperplasia by NB-UVB.

CONCLUSION

NB-UVB is superior to UVB-BB in reversing psoriasis at suberythemogenic doses when given three times per week. This schedule was well tolerated by all patients.