Table 2:
Intervention Group Comparison, PLUTO Study
| Variable | Home NB-UVB Phototherapy | Outpatient NB-UVB Phototherapy | Difference (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irradiations | |||
| Mean number of radiations | 34.4 (n = 98) | 28.6 (n = 98) | 5.8 (2.7–9.0) |
| Mean Cumulative Dose, J/cm2 | |||
| At 23 irradiations | 21.2 (n = 85) | 26.9 (n = 68) | −5.7 (−10.3 to −1.1) |
| At end of treatment | 51.5 (n = 91) | 46.1 (n = 93) | 5.4 (−5.2 to 16.0) |
| Use of Adjuvant Drugsa | |||
| During wait timeb | |||
| Topical steroids, % | 25.5 (n = 24) | 6.3 (n = 6) | 19.2 (8.8 to 29.6) |
| Vitamin D derivatives, % | 18.1 (n = 17) | 6.3 (n = 6) | 11.8 (2.5 to 21.1) |
| During treatment | |||
| Topical steroids, % | 31.5 (n = 29) | 52.2 (n = 48) | −20.7 (−35.0 to −6.4) |
| Vitamin D derivatives, % | 19.6 (n = 18) | 40.2 (n = 37) | −20.6 (−33.8 to −7.4) |
| Wait Timeb and Treatment Duration | |||
| Mean wait time,b weeks | 5.8 | 2.2 | 3.6 (2.9 to 4.4) |
| Mean treatment duration, weeks | 11.4 | 14.1 | −2.7 (−4.1 to −1.2) |
| Mean time from inclusion to end of treatment, weeks | 17.2 | 16.2 | 1.0 (−0.6 to 2.5) |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; NB-UVB, narrowband ultraviolet B.
a
Proportion of participants using adjuvant drugs during two consecutive phases of the trial.
b
Time between inclusion in the trial and starting treatment.