Antinuclear antibodies during Puva therapy

During PUVA therapy 7 patients out of 34 with severe psoriasis developed circulating antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (21%). Before treatment only 3 patients of 50 (6%) considered for PUVA had detectable ANA. The ANA titres were usually low. Antibodies against native DNA as studied with the Crithidia luciliae test, were not found, and blood and urinary screening for collagenosis was negative. All 7 patients responded well to the PUVA treatment. The significance of these findings remains to be determined.