Table 2.
Main outcome measures for patients with psoriasis randomised to ultraviolet B phototherapy at home or in an outpatient department. Values are percentages (numbers) of patients unless stated otherwise
| Variables | Home phototherapy | Outpatient phototherapy | Difference (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness | |||
| SAPASI 50, 75, and 90*: | (n=94) | (n=91) | — |
| SAPASI 50 | 81.9 (77) | 79.1 (72) | 2.8 (−8.6 to 14.2) |
| SAPASI 75 | 69.1 (65) | 59.3 (54) | 9.8 (−4.0 to 23.6) |
| SAPASI 90 | 43.6 (41) | 29.7 (27) | 13.9 (0.002 to 27.8) |
| PASI 50, 75, and 90†: | (n=91) | (n=84) | — |
| PASI 50 | 70.3 (64) | 72.6 (61) | −2.3 (−15.7 to 11.1) |
| PASI 75 | 40.7 (37) | 41.7 (35) | −1.0 (−15.6 to 13.6) |
| PASI 90 | 19.8 (18) | 19.0 (16) | 0.8 (−10.9 to 12.5) |
| Safety | |||
| Irradiations: | (n=98) | (n=98) | — |
| Mean No of irradiations | 34.4 | 28.6 | 5.8 (2.7 to 9.0) |
| Mean cumulative dose (J/cm2): | (n=85) | (n=68) | — |
| At 23 irradiations | 21.2 | 26.9 | −5.7 (−10.3 to −1.1) |
| (n=91) | (n=93) | ||
| At end of therapy | 51.5 | 46.1 | 5.4 (−5.2 to 16.0) |
| Proportion of side effects per irradiation (%): | (n=93) | (n=92) | — |
| Severe erythema | 5.5 | 3.6 | 1.9 (−1.1 to 4.9) |
| Blistering | 0.3 | 0.6 | −0.3 (−0.9 to 0.3) |
| Burning sensation | 7.1 | 10.0 | −2.9 (−7.1 to 1.2) |
| Mild erythema | 28.8 | 28.6 | 0.3 (−7.4 to 8.0) |
| Use of adjuvant drugs‡ | |||
| During waiting time§: | (n=94) | (n=95) | — |
| Topical steroids | 25.5 (24) | 6.3 (6) | 19.2 (8.8 to 29.6) |
| Vitamin D derivatives | 18.1 (17) | 6.3 (6) | 11.8 (2.5 to 21.1) |
| During phototherapy: | (n=92) | (n=92) | |
| Topical steroids | 31.5 (29) | 52.2 (48) | −20.7 (−35.0 to −6.4) |
| Vitamin D derivatives | 19.6 (18) | 40.2 (37) | −20.6 (−33.8 to −7.4) |
| Waiting time§ and duration of therapy | |||
| (n=93) | (n=95) | — | |
| Mean waiting time§ (weeks) | 5.8 | 2.2 | 3.6 (2.9 to 4.4) |
| Mean duration of therapy (weeks) | 11.4 | 14.1 | −2.7 (−4.1 to −1.2) |
| Mean time from inclusion to end of therapy (weeks) | 17.2 | 16.2 | 1.0 (−0.6 to 2.5) |
SAPASI=self administered psoriasis area and severity index; PASI=psoriasis area and severity index. When treatments exceeded 46 irradiations, 46 irradiations is defined as end of therapy. Values shown are calculated from data not exceeding 46 irradiations.
*Proportion of patients achieving at least a 50%, 75%, or 90% decline of baseline SAPASI at end of therapy.
†Proportion of patients achieving at least a 50%, 75%, or 90% decline of baseline PASI at end of therapy.
‡Proportion of patients using adjuvant drugs during two consecutive phases of trial.
§Time between inclusion in trial and starting phototherapy.