Phototherapy for Pityriasis Lichenoides in the Pediatric Population: A Review of the Published Literature

Efficacy and safety of excimer light (308 nm) in the treatment of pityriasis lichenoides chronica

INTRODUCTION

Pityriasis lichenoides chronica is the chronic end of the spectrum of pityriasis lichenoides which have several forms of papulosuamous conditions. Several treatments obtained complete clearance of the condition including phototherapy and specifically narrow band ultraviolet B. The Excimer light 308 is a monochromatic light that acts within the ultraviolet B wavelength and used as a targeted phototherapy in several skin conditions.

METHODS

Thirty-four patients with histopathologically diagnosed pityriasis lichenoides chronica underwent treatment with biweekly sessions of excimer light 308 nm. Treatment continued until complete clearance was obtained or to a maximum of 48 sessions (24 weeks).

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients obtained complete clearance with no recurrence till the end of the study period, two patients had partial response and only one patient showed poor response to treatment.

CONCLUSION

Excimer light can be a safe and effective treatment of pityriasis lichinoides chronica in different ages and genders.

The realistic positioning of UVA1 phototherapy after 25 years of clinical experience and the availability of new biologics and small molecules: a retrospective clinical study

BACKGROUND

Since the early 1990s, Ultraviolet (UV) A1 phototherapy has been described as an effective and safe treatment of a multitude of skin disorders. However, after 30 years, its use has remained limited to few dermatological centers.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the changes over the years and the current position of UVA1 phototherapy through a Real-World Evidence (RWE) study at a single tertiary referral center.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical files of 740 patients treated between 1998 and 2022. Treatment results were collected, efficacy was assessed by a grading scale and acute adverse effects were registered.

RESULTS

We treated patients with 26 different diseases. We registered marked improvement (MI) or complete remission (CR) in 42.8% of patients with morphea, 50% with Urticaria Pigmentosa, 40.7% with Granuloma annulare and 85.7% with skin sarcoidosis. Good results were obtained also in the treatment of chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), Eosinophilic Fasciitis, Sclero-atrophic Lichen, skin manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis of HIV+ patients. Systemic Sclerosis, Romberg's Syndrome, Bushke's Scleredema, Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy, REM Syndrome, Follicular Mucinosis, Pretibial Myxedema, Scleromyxedema, pemphigus foliaceus, chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus, erythroderma of Netherton Syndrome and Necrobiosis Lipoidica were no or poorly responsive. In clinical indications where UVA1 was used as a second line phototherapy after narrow-band (NB)-UVB, we saw good MI or CR rates in Mycosis Fungoides (57% of patients), Atopic Dermatitis (33.9%), Pitiryasis Lichenoides chronica (50%), Pityriasis Lichenoides et varioliformis acute (75%) and Lymphomatod Papulosis (62.5%). Short-term adverse events were uncommon and mild.

CONCLUSION

Over the past decade, the annual number of treated patients has progressively declined for several reasons. Firstly, UVA1 phototherapy has taken a backseat to the cheaper and more practical NB-UVB phototherapy, which has proven effective for common indications. Secondly, the emergence of new, safe, and effective drugs for conditions such as atopic dermatitis, GVHD, and connective tissue disorders. Finally, our research has shown that UVA1 therapy is often ineffective or minimally effective for some rare diseases, contrary to previous case reports and small case series. Nonetheless, UVA1 continues to be a valuable treatment option for patients with specific skin disorders.

Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy for pityriasis lichenoides: A real-life experience

INTRODUCTION

Pityriasis lichenoides (PL) is a papulosquamous disease affecting both children and adults, for which narrowband-UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy is regarded as a commonly used treatment option. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of NB-UVB phototherapy in the management of PL and to compare response rates in pediatric and adult age groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This observational, retrospective study included 20 PL patients (12 pityriasis lichenoides chronica; PLC, 8 pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta; PLEVA) who failed to respond to other treatment modalities. The data for this study were collected retrospectively from patient follow-up forms in the phototherapy unit.

RESULTS

A complete response (CR) was obtained in all pediatric patients with PL, while 53.8% of adult patients had achieved CR. The mean cumulative dose required to achieve the CR was higher in pediatric patients than adult patients with PL (p < .05). The CR was achieved in 6 (75%) of 8 PLEVA patients, while 8 (66.7%) of 12 PLC patients had reached to CR. The mean number of exposures for patients with PLC to achieve a CR was higher than patients with PLEVA (p < .05). Erythema was the most common adverse effect during phototherapy particularly in 5 (35.7%) of the patients with PL who had achieved CR.

CONCLUSIONS

NB-UVB is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for PL especially in diffuse types. A higher response can be obtained in children with higher cumulative dose. Patients with PLC may require more exposures for CR than patients with PLEVA.

An overview of the efficacy of phototherapy in oncodermatology

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous adverse events (AEs) following cancer immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy have been well-documented in the literature. A number of case reports have identified phototherapy, a form of light therapy that mimics sunlight exposure, as a noninvasive treatment modality for these cutaneous toxicities. By inducing local suppression of the immune system, phototherapy is a skin-directed treatment with minimal effect on tumor response. Phototherapy may therefore be a viable treatment option for cutaneous AEs from cancer therapies.

METHODS

We reviewed the literature for patients treated with phototherapy for cutaneous AEs following cancer immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or chemotherapy. We also included three previously unpublished cases from our own institution.

RESULTS

We identified 24 patients (80% male, mean age 67 years, range 49-75 years). Patients received the following phototherapy types: NB-UVB (n = 17), PUVA (n = 6), or PDT (n = 1). A topical steroid was used in conjunction with phototherapy in seven patients. At phototherapy onset, cancer treatment was either continued, temporarily discontinued, or discontinued (n = 9, 6, 7, respectively; in two cases, the cancer treatment course was unknown). Improvement of cutaneous AEs was observed in 96% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Phototherapy resulted in full or partial improvement in all but one patient. A topical steroid was used in nearly a third of patients, suggesting some oncodermatologists co-administer topicals to further boost response. Continuation of cancer therapy in the majority of patients highlights an additional advantage of phototherapy. We believe phototherapy may be an effective adjunctive treatment to topical steroids when treating these cutaneous toxicities.

An Update on Narrowband Ultraviolet B Therapy for the Treatment of Skin Diseases

The objective of this review is to provide an update on narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) as a treatment for various skin conditions. NB-UVB works by suppressing the cutaneous cell-mediated immune response and has been shown to be an efficacious and clinically tolerable treatment for a range of inflammatory dermatoses. A literature search was conducted by advanced searches of PubMed for NB-UVB treatment of dermatologic skin diseases with a focus on reports from 2010 to 2021, including both office-based and home-based phototherapy (HBPT). Data were prioritized based on studies with a high level of evidence using the Oxford Evidence-Based Medicine guidance.

We found that NB-UVB continues to serve as an effective form of therapy for several cutaneous conditions, including vitiligo, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, mycosis fungoides, and other inflammatory dermatoses. The recent introduction of Janus kinase inhibitors in combination with NB-UVB suggests future promise in the treatment of vitiligo. Despite its rise in popularity, a decline was seen in office-based NB-UVB treatment during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Options are available to deliver NB-UVB at home with comparable efficacy to office-based treatments. In conclusion, for a select group of patients and conditions, NB-UVB continues to serve as an effective treatment modality with minimal side effects, with HBPT serving as an option to improve patient compliance.

Mucha-Habermann disease: a pediatric case report and proposal of a risk score

Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease (FUMHD) is a rare inflammatory dermatological disease. A case of a 13-year-old boy with FUMHD possibly triggered by mycoplasma infection is presented. Based on FUMHD cases identified in a MEDLINE literature search, demographic, treatment, and outcome data were analyzed. An FUMHD mortality risk score is proposed based on the likelihood ratios of risk factors for a fatal outcome. Our FUMHD case had marked leukopenia and thrombocytopenia at admission. He recovered without systemic immunosuppressive treatment. Literature review revealed 119 FUMHD cases. Overall lethality was 14/119 (12%, CI 6-17%), and lethality in children was lower (1/54, 2%, CI 0-6%) compared to adults (13/65, 20%, CI 11-31%). Risk factors for a fatal outcome (likelihood ratio; P) were sepsis (24.97, P < 0.001), adult vs. pediatric patient age (11.19; P = 0.001), systemic involvement (19.97, P < 0.001), and mucosal involvement (4.58; P = 0.032). The proposed FUMHD mortality risk score = Age/10 + 4 + 4 (if systemic involvement) + 1 (if mucosal involvement) was discriminative (sensitivity 93%, specificity 77%). In FUMHD, immune-suppressive treatment intensity should be balanced against the mortality risk, as infectious complications are a frequent cause of death.

Phototherapy in the Pediatric Population

Phototherapy has been used successfully to treat a wide range of pediatric skin conditions. It is a viable option in children with severe dermatologic disease or who have failed first-line treatments, and several studies have demonstrated its efficacy and safety in the pediatric population. Despite the growing body of evidence on the use of phototherapy in children, large controlled trials and long-term studies are lacking. Moreover, special considerations must be taken when using phototherapy in children. This review highlights the recent evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of phototherapy in children, with focus on the common light-sensitive pediatric skin conditions.