Table 1.

Overview of the different phototherapeutic strategies within the main groups of sclerotic connective tissue diseases. [Categories: A – double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled; B – open, randomised; C – open, non-randomized; D – case series; E – case report]

Disease	Therapy	Dosage	Experience	Comments
Systemic sclerosis	UVA	-	-	requires evaluation
	UVA128–31	low-/medium-dose	E, C	benefit, especially suited for acrosclerosis and partial body exposure
	PUVA18,32–34	medium-dose	E, D	bath application in childhood discussed
Localized scleroderma	UVA36,37	low-dose	C	benefit, no further evaluation
	UVA138–45	low-/medium-/high-dose	D, C	no exact recommendation in favor to best dosage, benefit, combination with calcipotriol where appropriate, successful in childhood/adolescence
	PUVA19,32,34,46–51	high-dose	E, D	questionable efficacy, extreme variance in dosage, combination (cream) with calcipotriol in childhood
Extragenital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus	UVA	-	-	requires evaluation
	UVA140,56–58	low-dose	E, D, C	effectiveness, disputable in combined morphea/lichen sclerosis et atrophicus
	PUVA59,60	low-dose	E	benefit, careful cream therapy for genitoanal lesions where appropriate
Sclerodermoid graft- vs-host disease	UVA	-	-	requires evaluation
	UVA162–64	low-/medium-dose	E, D	partial efficacy, medium-dose possibly more effective than low-dose, combined UV/immunosuppressive therapy
	PUVA65–71	medium-dose	E, D, C	skeptical effectiveness, potentially adjunct therapy in addition to conventional chemotherapy, more effective in lichenoid than sclerodermoid lesions
Lupus erythematosus	UVA	-	-	requires evaluation
	UVA173–78	low-dose	D, C, A	benefit in occasional cases, long-term application
	PUVA	-	-	requires evaluation