US EPA

651871 

Journal Article 

Susceptibility to UV-A and UV-B provocation does not correlate with disease severity of polymorphic light eruption 

Janssens, AS; Pavel, S; Ling, T; Winhoven, SM; Anastasopoulou, N; Stratigos, A; Antoniou, C; Diepgen, T; de Gruijl, F; Rhodes, LE 

2007 

Yes 

Archives of Dermatology
ISSN: 0003-987X
EISSN: 1538-3652 

143 

5 

599-604 

English 

17515509 

10.1001/archderm.143.5.599 

http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/143/5/599.pdf
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Objective: To examine whether the ease of disease provocation by UV-A and/or UV-B radiation correlates with clinical features of polymorphic light eruption (PLE), including those indicative of disease severity. Design: Intervention study. Patients: One hundred forty-three patients with PLE. Interventions: Provocation testing with broadband UV-A and UV-B lamps. Additionally, a range of clinical characteristics of the disorder, including a 5-item PLE severity score, was assessed by questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures: Percentage of PLE rash induction by UV-A and UV-B provocation, differences between the skin types, and correlation between the results of provocation and a range of clinical characteristics of the disorder, including a 5-item PLE severity score. Results: Rash provocation was seen in 78.3% of patients after UV-A and in 46.7% after UV-B exposure. Neither UV-A nor UV-B provocation showed a significant association with the total 5-item severity score. The UV-B reactivity was associated with a high score on the severity item "number of months affected per year" (P=.04), whereas UV-A responsiveness showed a tendency for association with facial involvement (P=.06). Conclusion: The objective assessment of UV-A or UV-B susceptibility in this large group of patients showed no significant relationship with clinical disease severity.