Evaluation of medium-dose UVA1 phototherapy in localized scleroderma with the cutometer and fast Fourier transform method

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of medium-dose UVA1 phototherapy in patients with localized scleroderma. METHOD: A controlled pilot study with medium-dose UVA1 (48 J/cm2) was performed. The results were evaluated by means of a skin score and two objective methods for quantifying sclerosis (cutometer and fast Fourier transform method). Patients were treated 4 times a week for 5 weeks. The follow-up period was 12 weeks. RESULTS: All patients responded to therapy. Skin score and cutometer results showed improvement of skin elasticity of treated skin compared to control skin. Fast Fourier transform measurements showed no change in bundle orientation ratio and spacing. CONCLUSION: We concluded that treatment for 12 weeks 4 times a week with medium-dose UVA1 may be a beneficial therapy and a well-tolerated treatment modality for localized scleroderma (morphea). After 12 weeks, improvement of skin sclerosis can be detected by skin score and cutometer measurements but not by the fast Fourier transform method.