OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) in the treatment of an autoimmune disease with known cutaneous photosensitivity. METHODS: Ten patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were treated with ECP in an open clinical trial. The efficacy of treatment was analyzed by means of established disease activity scores. RESULTS: Eight patients completed the trial. In 7 of the 8, there was a significant response to the treatment, with no or minor side effects. The clinical activity score in the group of 8 patients decreased from a median of 7 (range 4-9) to a median of 1 (range 0-5) (P less than 0.05). Laboratory abnormalities did not change significantly, but were mild at the outset. CONCLUSION: ECP led to clinical improvement of SLE without side effects. The effectiveness of this method should be investigated further in controlled clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) in the treatment of an autoimmune disease with known cutaneous photosensitivity. METHODS: Ten patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were treated with ECP in an open clinical trial. The efficacy of treatment was analyzed by means of established disease activity scores. RESULTS: Eight patients completed the trial. In 7 of the 8, there was a significant response to the treatment, with no or minor side effects. The clinical activity score in the group of 8 patients decreased from a median of 7 (range 4-9) to a median of 1 (range 0-5) (P less than 0.05). Laboratory abnormalities did not change significantly, but were mild at the outset. CONCLUSION: ECP led to clinical improvement of SLE without side effects. The effectiveness of this method should be investigated further in controlled clinical trials.
Authors: R Knobler; G Berlin; P Calzavara-Pinton; H Greinix; P Jaksch; L Laroche; J Ludvigsson; P Quaglino; W Reinisch; J Scarisbrick; T Schwarz; P Wolf; P Arenberger; C Assaf; M Bagot; M Barr; A Bohbot; L Bruckner-Tuderman; B Dreno; A Enk; L French; R Gniadecki; H Gollnick; M Hertl; C Jantschitsch; A Jung; U Just; C-D Klemke; U Lippert; T Luger; E Papadavid; H Pehamberger; A Ranki; R Stadler; W Sterry; I H Wolf; M Worm; J Zic; C C Zouboulis; U Hillen Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 6.166