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Rheumatology Advance Access published online on August 10, 2004
Rheumatology, doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keh352
Rheumatology © British Society for Rheumatology 2004; all rights reserved
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Received April 15, 2004
Accepted July 6, 2004

Original Papers

Efficacy of UVA-1 cold light as an adjuvant therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus

M. C. A. Polderman 1*, S. le Cessie 2, T. W. J. Huizinga 3, S. Pavel 1

1 Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
2 Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
3 Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: M.C.A.Polderman{at}lumc.nl.


  Abstract

Objective. The assessment of the efficacy of therapy of patients with moderately active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with low doses of UVA-1 cold light.

Methods. A double blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study design was used for the examination of the efficacy of low doses of UVA-1 radiation (12 J/cm2/day for 15 days) in 12 patients.

Results. UVA-1 treatment resulted in a significant decrease of well-validated disease activity indexes [the SLE Activity Measure (SLAM) (P<0.001) and the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) (P = 0.007)], whereas neither score improved significantly during placebo treatment. Furthermore, UVA-1 therapy proved to be more effective [mean decrease 4.8 points) than placebo (mean decrease -1.7 points (i.e. an increase)] when measured by the SLAM (P = 0.001, 95% CI -7.56 to -2.28), but not by the SLEDAI. Two patients had transient skin reactions at the beginning of treatment.

Conclusion. UVA-1 therapy appears to be a useful adjuvant treatment modality for patients suffering from moderately active SLE. Its effect could possibly be explained by reduction of B-cell function or apoptosis of plasma cells.

Keywords: SLE; Systemic lupus erythematosus; UVA-1.
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