PUVA-treatment for solar urticaria and persistent light reaction.

A technique is described to successfully treat patients with extreme sensitivity to UV electromagnetic wave lengths with photochemotherapy. Representative data from a patient with solar urticaria and two patients with persistent light reaction are given. Prior to treatment the threshold doses for UV-C, UV-B, and UV-A were determined. Photochemotherapy was performed with standard 8-methoxypsoralen-UV-A (PUVA) schedules. Initial treatments were very difficult because of the extreme UV-sensitivity in all patients. Once pigmentation was induced, PUVA-treatments were easy to perform. All patients became almost free of symptoms and were able, for the first time in years, to resume normal outdoor activities. Remission was long-lasting. Photochemotherapy is offered as a new effective means to alleviate the symptoms of disabling photodermatoses.