PUVA photochemotherapy for the patients with atopic dermatitis: a review

Abstract

PUVA therapy (photochemotherapy) has anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and antiproliferative effects, which makes it possible to use it for the treatment of patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis. At the same time, there are no summarized data on the results of PUVA therapy in patients with atopic dermatitis. In this regard, the effectiveness and safety of PUVA therapy in patients with atopic dermatitis was evaluated according to the scientific literature. Literature search was carried out using the keywords "atopic dermatitis" "PUVA therapy", "photochemotherapy" in the databases of scientific publications PubMed and RSCI. The methods of irradiation used, as well as the effectiveness and safety of PUVA therapy in patients with atopic dermatitis were analyzed. 14 publications were found describing the results of 13 studies that evaluated the effectiveness of various methods of PUVA therapy in patients with atopic dermatitis - photochemotherapy with peroral use of a photosensitizer, photochemotherapy with its topical use, and PUVA baths. All studies have shown the effectiveness of PUVA therapy in patients with atopic dermatitis. Nevertheless, the limitations of using this method are noted the possibility of the development of adverse events caused by ultraviolet irradiation and taking a photosensitizer, which requires a careful assessment of the benefit-risk ratio for the patient when prescribing PUVA therapy to patients with atopic dermatitis. According to the available literature data, PUVA therapy should be prescribed to adult patients with severe atopic dermatitis who have had insufficiently effective other therapy.