[Chemotaxis activity of neutrophils and monocytes in patients with psoriasis vulgaris in relation to PUVA therapy].

With regard to the existing possibility favored by many immunologists that study on neutrophil (N) and monocyte (Mo) may throw light on the pathogenetic mechanism of clinical conditions such as psoriasis, the effect of PUVA therapy on human N and Mo chemotaxis in psoriasis vulgaris (PV) was investigated. One hundred psoriatic patients with severe clinical picture participated in this study: 20 with acute exanthematic form, 16 with chronic stable form and 64 patients in acute flare of the chronic course. Eitzman's modified method introduced originally by Rebuck was employed prior to and after PUVA, to assess N and Mo chemotaxis. The obtained results have shown pronounced and significant enhancement of N and Mo migration prior to and after PUVA in all investigated groups of patients. Significant difference due to PUVA therapy was seen only in the third phase of the inflammatory response regarding all assessed patients and group A. In this phase, these patients showed significant decrease in N and Mo mobility rate after PUVA treatment in comparison to the chemotactic activity prior to PUVA. These findings suggest the study on N and Mo chemotaxis to be justified only during the third phase of the inflammatory response, when the assessment of PUVA effect is concerned.