1. Treatment of psoriatic arthritis by extracorporeal photochemotherapy.
- Author
-
Wilfert H, Hönigsmann H, Steiner G, Smolen J, and Wolff K
- Subjects
- Adult, Arthritis, Psoriatic pathology, Cell Division drug effects, Female, Humans, Lymphocytes drug effects, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Arthritis, Psoriatic drug therapy, PUVA Therapy methods
- Abstract
Five patients with long-standing seronegative arthritis resistant to conventional therapy and who also had psoriasis of the skin were treated with photopheresis. This mode of treatment combines a lymphocyte-enrichment procedure with 8-methoxypsoralen-photochemotherapy. There was a marked in vitro effect on treated lymphocytes, with a reduction of viability, proliferation and mitogen response. There was a slight to moderate clinical improvement in four of the five patients with regard to the strength of grip, swelling, pain, morning stiffness, the dosage of non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs and the radiographical changes. The skin lesions did not respond to photopheresis. Short-term side-effects were minimal and consisted of a temporary sensitivity of the eyes to light and signs of circulatory dysregulation immediately after treatment. This experimental therapy has some measurable but not dramatic effect in improving psoriatic arthropathy.
- Published
- 1990
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