[Bath-PUVA therapy of granuloma annulare]

Sixteen patients with generalized granuloma anulare and two patients with localized granuloma anulare received bath-PUVA therapy. Their lesions previously had not responded to conventional therapy. After an average of 55 (11 to 61) treatments and a mean cumulative dose of 69.5 (7.1 to 261.5) J/cm2, complete remission was observed in 5 patients and a clear improvement in 10 patients. Three patients stopped therapy after few treatments. Recurrent lesions appeared in 4 patients; in three of them reinitiation of the bath-PUVA-therapy again led to complete remission. Maintenance therapy for several months may be useful for patients suffering from relapsing granuloma anulare. Potential risks of long-lasting bath-PUVA therapy should be taken into consideration.