Efficacy of UVA-1 cold light as an adjuvant therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective: The assessment of the efficacy of therapy of patients with moderately active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with low doses of UVA-1 cold light.

Methods: A double blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study design was used for the examination of the efficacy of low doses of UVA-1 radiation (12 J/cm2/day for 15 days) in 12 patients.

Results: UVA-1 treatment resulted in a significant decrease of well-validated disease activity indexes [the SLE Activity Measure (SLAM) (P < 0.001) and the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) (P = 0.007)], whereas neither score improved significantly during placebo treatment. Furthermore, UVA-1 therapy proved to be more effective [mean decrease 4.8 points) than placebo (mean decrease -1.7 points (i.e. an increase)] when measured by the SLAM (P = 0.001, 95% CI -7.56 to -2.28), but not by the SLEDAI. Two patients had transient skin reactions at the beginning of treatment.

Conclusion: UVA-1 therapy appears to be a useful adjuvant treatment modality for patients suffering from moderately active SLE. Its effect could possibly be explained by reduction of B-cell function or apoptosis of plasma cells.