Biomaterial Database

Photochemotherapy beyond psoriasis. 1994

B Honig, and W L Morison, and D Karp

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.

Photochemotherapy involves the therapeutic use of nonionizing radiation in combination with a photosensitizing chemical to trigger a photochemical reaction that mediates a beneficial effect. The successful introduction and widespread use of psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA) in the management of psoriasis was the chief stimulus for recent interest in the therapeutic use of nonionizing radiation in various other dermatoses. This article discusses the expanding spectrum of diseases responding to PUVA therapy. More than 30 conditions such as atopic dermatitis, mycosis fungoides, vitiligo, the photodermatoses, chronic graft-versus-host disease, and granuloma annulare have been successfully treated with oral psoralen photochemotherapy. Various mechanisms of response to treatment are discussed including photoimmunologic effects, selective cytotoxicity, alterations of cell function, and stimulation of melanocytes. Finally, the limitations to the use of PUVA therapy are identified and its future use in other cutaneous and systemic diseases are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009182	Mycosis Fungoides	A chronic, malignant T-cell lymphoma of the skin. In the late stages, the LYMPH NODES and viscera are affected.
D010787	Photosensitivity Disorders	Abnormal responses to sunlight or artificial light due to extreme reactivity of light-absorbing molecules in tissues. It refers almost exclusively to skin photosensitivity, including sunburn, reactions due to repeated prolonged exposure in the absence of photosensitizing factors, and reactions requiring photosensitizing factors such as photosensitizing agents and certain diseases. With restricted reference to skin tissue, it does not include photosensitivity of the eye to light, as in photophobia or photosensitive epilepsy.	Actinic Reticuloid Syndrome,Dermatitis, Actinic,Photodermatitis,Chronic Actinic Dermatitis,Photosensitization,Actinic Dermatitides,Actinic Dermatitides, Chronic,Actinic Dermatitis,Actinic Dermatitis, Chronic,Actinic Reticuloid Syndromes,Chronic Actinic Dermatitides,Dermatitides, Actinic,Dermatitides, Chronic Actinic,Dermatitis, Chronic Actinic,Disorder, Photosensitivity,Disorders, Photosensitivity,Photodermatitides,Photosensitivity Disorder,Reticuloid Syndrome, Actinic,Reticuloid Syndromes, Actinic,Syndrome, Actinic Reticuloid,Syndromes, Actinic Reticuloid
D011565	Psoriasis	A common genetically determined, chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by rounded erythematous, dry, scaling patches. The lesions have a predilection for nails, scalp, genitalia, extensor surfaces, and the lumbosacral region. Accelerated epidermopoiesis is considered to be the fundamental pathologic feature in psoriasis.	Palmoplantaris Pustulosis,Pustular Psoriasis of Palms and Soles,Pustulosis Palmaris et Plantaris,Pustulosis of Palms and Soles,Psoriases
D011701	PUVA Therapy	Photochemotherapy using PSORALENS as the photosensitizing agent and ultraviolet light type A (UVA).	Psoralen Ultraviolet A Therapy,Therapy, PUVA,PUVA Therapies,Therapies, PUVA
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012871	Skin Diseases	Diseases involving the DERMIS or EPIDERMIS.	Dermatoses,Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders,Dermatosis,Skin Disease
D012878	Skin Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the SKIN.	Cancer of Skin,Skin Cancer,Cancer of the Skin,Neoplasms, Skin,Cancer, Skin,Cancers, Skin,Neoplasm, Skin,Skin Cancers,Skin Neoplasm
D014820	Vitiligo	A disorder consisting of areas of macular depigmentation, commonly on extensor aspects of extremities, on the face or neck, and in skin folds. Age of onset is often in young adulthood and the condition tends to progress gradually with lesions enlarging and extending until a quiescent state is reached.