Research Link Library
April 2012 – Clin Exp Dermatol
UVA1 Is Often A1!
"After reviewing the evidence, a workshop group discusses the effectiveness, safety, and costs of UVA1 phototherapy….
In SLE, UVA1 seems to benefit both systemic and skin disease. In urticaria pigmentosa, mast cell numbers decrease with treatment. In sclerotic graft-versus-host disease, nephrogenic systemic sclerosis, hypereosinophilic syndromes, lichen sclerosis, scleredema, chronic urticaria, granuloma annulare, sarcoid, psoriasis, and pityriasis lichenoides, UVA1 appears to work well, based mostly on evidence from case series, case reviews, or case reports, so the level of evidence is lower."
June 2010 - Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, Volume 16 – Issue 4 – pp 188-189
Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension Responsive to Low-Dose Ultraviolet A1 Irradiation in Lupus
"Although the lungs are clearly a target in SLE, there has been no patient with pulmonary disease, prior to this report, monitored for changes in pulmonary measures during prolonged ultraviolet A1 irradiation therapy…"
"The initiation of full body low-dose (8 J/cm2), twice weekly exposures to ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) irradiation…led to resolution of her fatigue and malar rash within days, polyarthritis and cognitive deficits within weeks, and photosensitivity within months, during which she discontinued her prednisone but continued the hydroxychloroquine. Although the study was not directed at [interstitial lung disease] or [pulmonary hypertension], over the long-term her pleurisy subsided, dyspnea diminished, restricted pulmonary volume increased, and the [Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity] as measured by singlebreath standard technique increased from 14 to 24 mL/min/mm Hg, representing a 65% to 105% increase of predicted. Pulmonary pressures, measured by transthoracic ultrasound, decreased from 45 to 25 mm Hg. Her ANA remained at 1:640; ENA and anticardiolipin antibodies became negative; and the anti-dsDNA, sedimentation rate, and CRP remained normal. She gradually discontinued her prednisone and progressed through a successful pregnancy while continuing the UVA1 therapy…"
Efficacy of Ultraviolet A1 Phototherapy in Recalcitrant Skin Diseases
"Conclusion: UVA1 phototherapy is an effective treatment modality for acute exacerbated atopic dermatitis, mycosis fungoides and localized scleroderma."
The Protective Effects of Ultraviolet A1 Irradiation on Spontaneous
Lupus Erythematosus-Like Skin Lesions in MRL/lpr Mice –
“…results supported the clinical efficacy of UVA1 irradiation for skin lesions of lupus patients.”
April 2009 - Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2009 Apr;136(4):323-9
Treatment of connective tissue disorder-related acral syndromes using UVA-1 phototherapy. An open study of 11 cases
“…UVA-1 phototherapy clearly offers a new and valuable therapeutic option in connective tissue disorders associated with acral manifestations and/or lesions, including SLE and SS.”
February 14, 2008 - U.S. News & World Report
Overabundance of Immune Cells Might Trigger Lupus –
“Researchers from Saint Louis University report that a pile-up of superfluous immune cells might contribute to lupus, a finding which could point to new therapies for the autoimmune disease.”
June 5, 2006 - Musculoskeletal Report
New Treatment for Lupus Brought to (UVA-1) Light –
“UVA-1 phototherapy can be an effective and safe adjuvant therapy to the traditional pharmacological therapies in SLE patients.”
May 2006 - Clinical and Experimental Immunology
Ultraviolet-A (UVA-1) radiation suppresses immunoglobulin production of activated B lymphocytes in vitro
"Although UVA-1 can cause apoptosis of B lymphocytes, we show that relatively low doses of UVA-1 radiation also affect the function of these cells. Both effects may be responsible for the observed improvement of disease activity in SLE patients."
March 7, 2006 - Rheumatology 2006;45(6):653-655
Editorial — Light therapy (with UVA-1) for SLE patients: Is it a good or bad idea?
"…With appropriate apparatus, UVA-1 therapy can become a valuable adjuvant therapy for SLE patients without detrimental side-effects."
New applications of UVA1 cold light therapy
"Low dose UVA-1 cold light treatment was strongly suggestive of lowering [SLE] disease activity in this double blind, placebo controlled study, and no side effects occurred."
Elimination of anticardiolipin antibodies and cessation of cognitive decline in a UV-A1-irradiated systemic lupus erythematosus patient
"In the first patient with high levels of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) treated with ultraviolet-A1 (UV-A1; 320-400 nm) radiation, eight months of twice-weekly low-dose (10 J/cm2) irradiation was accompanied by the decrease of aCL levels to normal, cessation of clinical and positron emission tomographic (PET) scanning evidence of cognitive decline, and reversal of livedo reticularis. All occurred within the framework of an improving Revised Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM-R) score."
April 12, 2005 - Rheumatology 2005 44(7):925-931
Ultraviolet-A1 phototherapy modulates Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 balance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus –
”On the basis of our study, UVA1 phototherapy does seem to be an effective adjuvant in the treatment of SLE patients.”
November 11, 2004 - Rheumatology. 2004;43:1402-1404
UVA1 Light Useful as Adjuvant Therapy for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus –
“A new study by Dutch researchers has found that UVA1 light therapy significantly decreases validated disease activity indices in patients with moderately active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without causing significant adverse effects.”
September 2004 - BMC Dermatol. 2004; 4:11
UVA1 phototherapy … in connective tissue diseases and related disorders: a research based review
UVA-1 cold light treatment of SLE: a double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial
"Low dose UVA-1 cold light treatment was strongly suggestive of lowering disease activity in this double blind placebo controlled study, and no side effects occurred."
2003-1987* - Lupus/UVA1 Studies – PDF download – when prompted, enter password: lupuslight
*Does not include British Journal of Rheumatology, 1996;35:1002-1007
*Does not include Current Therapeutic Research, 1994 Pilot Study by Dr. Hugh McGrath Jr
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