Table 2.

UVA1 phototherapy for systemic sclerosis

Skin lesion in SS	No. of patients	Treatment regimen	Dose per treatment (J/cm2)	No. of irradiations	Outcome	Referemce/first author
Diffuse cutaneous sclerosis, pronounced acral edema and sclerosis, 4 patients even had piecemeal necrosis	18	4 s/w for 8 w, further 3 s/w for 6 w	30	50	16 patients showed marked softening of affected skin, an improvement of finger mobility and 4 patients with piecemeal necrosis showed almost complete healing. Only 2 patients showed no or just a slight improvement.	[20]/Alexander Kreuter
Severe diffuse acral cutaneous sclerosis	4	4 s/w for 8 w, further 3 s/w for 6 w	30	50	UVA1 irradiation exerted its positive effects by a modulation of endothelial regulation/transformation.	[21]/Frank Breuckmann
Acrosclerosis	9	3 s/w for 14 w	40	42	2 patients improved functions of treated hand but no modification of the index flexion or extension was seen. Cutaneous thickness was not improved.	[22]/F. Durand
Diffuse and limited type SS	4	5 times/week from mon to fri	60	9-29	In all patients, treated skin lesions were markedly softened after 9 to 29 exposures. Clinical improvement was associated with increase in joint passive range of motion, skin temperature and cutaneous elasticity.	[23]/Akimichi Morita
Diffuse and limited type SS with involvement of proximal and acral sites	8	3 s/w	30-40	26-32	In all patients skin lesions improved, demonstrated by a fall in the modified Rodnan skin score.	[24]/Rebecca F. Rose
Sclerodactyly and microstomia	1	2-3 s/w	50	40	After 10 treatments all sclerotic areas of skin including perioral area were less indurated. After 21 treatments she could articulate words normally and there was reduced furrowing around mouth. After 40 treatments, she could open her mouth more normally.	[25]/Angela Tewari

s/w: session per week, w: week, mon: Monday, fri: Friday.