PUVA

PUVA is the abbreviation for psoralen plus UV-A (also known as photochemotherapy ). With a combination of long-wave UV light and as a natural substance in essential oils of various plants occurring psoralen can their photosensitizing properties are used for therapeutic purposes.

PUVA therapy is used in dermatology to treat more pronounced forms of psoriasis , neurodermatitis , vitiligo and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas such as mycosis fungoides and Sézary's syndrome . It can also be used as an alternative to UVA1 therapy for urticaria pigmentosa , the cutaneous form of mastocytosis.

A distinction is made between systemic and topical PUVA therapy. In systemic PUVA therapy, the photosensitizer 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) is administered orally two hours before the irradiation . With topical PUVA therapy, a psoralen-containing cream is applied to the affected skin areas before the irradiation or the affected areas are bathed in water containing active ingredients.

Before the treatment, the patient should be thoroughly informed about possible side effects, as severe burns from UV light (sunlight, solarium) can occur shortly after the treatment and the risk of certain forms of skin cancer can increase in the long term. A careful risk-benefit analysis must be carried out by the doctor.

Other drugs can also have a photosensitizing effect, such as B. the immunosuppressive drug Ciclosporin , which u. a. given after transplants to reduce the risk of rejection reactions . Treatment with PUVA can result in severe burns of the skin and damage to the underlying tissue.

The mild to moderate form of psoriasis has also been treated with UV-free blue LED light since mid-2014. Studies have shown that blue light at a wavelength of 453 nm has growth-inhibiting properties that could reduce the overgrowth of skin cells that is typical of psoriasis. The inflammation in the skin could also be reduced. These effects resulted in symptom relief in two small patient studies.

Photopheresis is an alternative form of psoralen and UV-A treatment for PUVA .

literature

• F. Breuckmann, T. Gambichler, P. Altmeyer, A. Kreuter: UVA / UVA1 phototherapy and PUVA photochemotherapy in connective tissue diseases and related disorders: a research based review. In: BMC Dermatol. 4 (1), 2004 Sep 20, p. 11. PMID 15380024 PMC 521488 (free full text)
• M. Lebwohl: Psoriasis treatment: traditional therapy. In: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases . 64, 2005, pp. Ii83-ii86, doi: 10.1136 / ard.2004.030791 . PMC 1766882 (free full text)
• Gerd Herold: Internal Medicine. Cologne 2010.

Individual evidence

1. ^ J. Liebmann, M. Born, MV Kolb-Bachofen: Blue-Light Irradiation Regulates Proliferation and Differentiation in Human Skin Cells. In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology . 130, 2010, pp. 259-269. PMID 19675580
2. ↑ M. Fischer et al.: Blue light irradiation suppresses dendritic cells activation in vitro. In: Experimental Dermatology . 22, 2013, pp. 554-563. PMID 23879817
3. ↑ A. Weinstabl et al: Prospective randomized study on the efficacy of blue light in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. In: Dermatology . 223 (3), 2011, pp. 251-259. PMID 22105015 .
4. ^ S. Pfaff et al: Prospective randomized long-term study on the efficacy and safety of UV-free blue light for treating mild psoriasis vulgaris. In: Dermatology. 231, 2015, pp. 24-34. PMID 26044167

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !