Study of efficacy of bath PUVA therapy in the treatment of generalized plaque type psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory scaling disorder of the skin. Different patterns of psoriasis exist including plaque type, erythrodemic, pustular, palmoplantar and guttate. The most commonly involved sites are the elbows, knees, lumbosacral area and scalp. PUVA (Psoriasis Plus UVA) therapy [administration of oral psoralen followed by exposure to UVA (320 to 440 nm)] is widely used to treat severe psoriasis. Oral PUVA produces some adverse effects that may limit its applicability in a number of patients. The carcinogenic potential limits its use in patients with psoriasis who probably receive other carcinogenic treatments. Oral PUVA may induce complications such as nausea, vomiting and headache. In light of these problems Bath PUVA therapy is an important alternative to oral PUVA therapy. Bath PUVA is a kind of photochemotherapy in which UVA radiation after administration of topical psoralen in a warm water bath is used. We treated 30 patients with generalized plaque type psoriasis with 8-Mop Bath PUVA in Razi hospital. Bath PUVA cleared psoriasis more rapidly than oral PUVA and required fewer treatments (mean number of sessions: (17.6±2.1) and lower cumulative UVA dose. (49.2±15.4 J/cm²). 83.3 percent of our patients showed complete response to treatment and 13.4 percent showed good response