Phototherapy in childhood.

BACKGROUND

Little data exist about the efficacy of phototherapy in childhood dermatoses.

OBJECTIVE

To report our experience with pediatric patients treated with phototherapy.

METHODS

The study included children <or=17 years of age, who were treated in our phototherapy unit between 1985 and 2005. Data were retrospectively collected.

RESULTS

The study included 113 patients (50 boys, 63 girls) with a median of age of 13 years (range: 3-17 yrs). Narrow-band ultraviolet-B (34.6%), and ultraviolet-B (33.1%) were the most common treatments administered to the patients. Indications for phototherapy were psoriasis in 53.5%, vitiligo in 20.5%, pityriasis lichenoides in 14.2%, alopecia areata in 7.9%. Response was achieved in 92.9% of the psoriasis patients treated with narrow-band ultraviolet-B, in 83.3% treated with psoralen plus ultraviolet-A, and in 93.3% with ultraviolet-B. All the pityriasis lichenoides chronica patients who received narrow-band ultraviolet-B responded to the treatment and seven of nine treated with ultraviolet-B had a response. Response was achieved in 57% of the vitiligo patients treated with psoralen plus ultraviolet-A and in 50% of vitiligo patients treated with narrow-band ultraviolet-B. Of the 10 alopecia areata patients, two responded to psoralen plus ultraviolet-A. Among all the patients, erythema was the most common adverse effect.

CONCLUSION

Phototherapy is a well-tolerated treatment for childhood dermatoses, and is especially efficacious in psoriasis and pityriasis lichenoides chronica patients.