Background: There are several reports of the efficacy of broadband ultraviolet (UV) phototherapy in the treatment of pruritus associated with polycythaemia vera.
Objectives: To evaluate whether narrowband (TL-01) UVB phototherapy is also effective in treating this condition.
Methods: Ten patients with pruritus associated with polycythaemia vera were treated with narrowband (TL-01) UVB phototherapy. The first irradiation dose was 2/3 of the minimal erythema dose; the treatment schedule consisted of three irradiation sessions per week, with dose increments of 10% each session for skin types I and II, and 15% for skin types III and IV.
Results: Patients reported a marked relief of symptoms after an average of six treatments (median cumulative dose 1851.52 mJ cm-2, range 1180.4-2468.4). A complete remission of the pruritus occurred within 2-10 weeks of treatment (median cumulative dose 5371.46 mJ cm-2, range 3271.2-7336.3) in eight of 10 patients. Two patients had only a partial and temporary relief of pruritus after two cycles of treatment and a cumulative dose of 3271.2 mJ cm-2.
Conclusions: Narrowband UVB phototherapy is effective for treatment of pruritus associated with polycythaemia vera, and has the advantage of being less erythemogenic than broadband UVB.