[Photochemotherapy for psoriatic patients treated with corticosteroids and methotrexate]

The effect of photochemotherapy with oral administration of 8-methoxypsoralen followed by irradiation with UVA (PUVA) was investigated in 34 cases of severe, generalized psoriasis which could be controlled only by systemic administration of corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents. In each case clearing of psoriatic lesions was achieved under PUVA treatment. As expected, the average duration of the initial PUVA treatment period was longer when compared to patient groups not pretreated with corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents. In order to avoid relapses, maintenance treatment was installed after complete healing of psoriatic lesions comprising an average of one PUVA exposures per week. Eighty percent of such treated patients are continuously completely clear; the remaining patient group is 70--90% improved. The side effects, elicited by the previous administration of corticosteroids and/or cytotoxic agents are improved or have resolved under PUVA therapy. The present study indicates, that PUVA treatment of psoriasis is not only an alternative to the use of systemic corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents but is superior to these treatment modalities due to its lack of side effects and its higher effectiveness.