Bath-water compared with oral delivery of 8-methoxypsoralen PUVA therapy for chronic plaque psoriasis

Forty-four patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were randomly allocated to treatment with bath-water-delivered 8-methoxypsoralen (bath 8-MOP) or oral 8-methoxypsoralen (oral 8-MOP) PUVA therapy. There was a significant reduction in extent of the lesions and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) after 20 treatments with each modality. There was a fourfold reduction in cumulative ultraviolet A (UVA) dose in the bath group. Side-effects of erythema and nausea were less with bath therapy.