Topical Psoralen Ultraviolet Light A Versus Narrow Band Ultraviolet Light B Treatment for Recalcitrant Dermatoses of the Hand
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01792245 |
Recruitment Status : Unknown
Verified June 2015 by University of British Columbia.
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
First Posted : February 15, 2013
Last Update Posted : July 2, 2015
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Vitiligo | Device: Phototherapy | Phase 2 |
Hand dermatoses is a common problem which is characterized by itchy, erythematous and scaly lesions often with a long lasting and relapsing course. Patients presenting with these severe cutaneous changes are classified as having severe recalcitrant hand dermatoses. Treatment is difficult with considerable number of patients do not or only partially respond to the current treatments. Current treatment regimens mainly involve the use of high potency topical corticosteroids, which has only limited affect. Systemic treatment modalities have been utilized but have serious side effects with limited improvement of disease.
Several studies have shown the therapeutic effectiveness of the combination of topical psoralen with long wavelength ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA) in treating hand dermatoses. Topical PUVA is commonly associated with mild local sunburn reactions that often necessitate temporarily withholding treatment or decreasing the light dose. This subsequently leads to a delay in response or a prolongation of the treatment. Long term side effects include aging of the skin, hyperpigmentation, and a small increased risk of skin cancer that is more common in systemic PUVA. Narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) has emerged recently as an important treatment for a variety of photoresponsive diseases including psoriasis and eczema. For most conditions (other than hand psoriasis/eczema) NB-UVB has been shown to have similar therapeutic results to PUVA with less side effects.
There are only a few studies published on the efficacy of NB-UVB for hand psoriasis/eczema. Our hypothesis is that NB-UVB and topical PUVA will result in at least comparable improvement in hand psoriasis/eczema with less side effects associated with NB-UVB. We plan on conducting a prospective single-blind randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy and safety of topical PUVA and NB-UVB in treating hand psoriasis/eczema.
Study Objectives
- To compare the effect of topical PUVA and NB-UVB on visual cutaneous symptoms in patients presenting with recalcitrant hand dermatoses.
- To compare the side effect profile of topical PUVA and NB-UVB when treating patients with recalcitrant hand dermatoses.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 30 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Topical Psoralen Ultraviolet Light A Versus Narrow Band Ultraviolet Light B Treatment for Recalcitrant Dermatoses of the Hand: A Prospective Randomized, Single-blinded Controlled Clinical Trial |
Study Start Date : | February 2013 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 2015 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Active Comparator: NB-UVB
This single-blinded randomized bilateral left to right controlled comparison clinical trial of 24 weeks duration will compare the efficacy of NB-UVB to t-PUVA. For each patient one hand will be randomly assigned to receive t-PUVA and the other hand will receive NB-UVB. Each hand will receive treatment with either NB-UVB or topical PUVA three times weekly. Treatment will be performed until complete or almost complete clearing of psoriasis/eczema or until 50 exposures (over 16 weeks) have been reached, whichever comes first.
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Device: Phototherapy |
Active Comparator: Topical PUVA
This single-blinded randomized bilateral left to right controlled comparison clinical trial of 24 weeks duration will compare the efficacy of NB-UVB to t-PUVA. For each patient one hand will be randomly assigned to receive t-PUVA and the other hand will receive NB-UVB. Each hand will receive treatment with either NB-UVB or topical PUVA three times weekly. Treatment will be performed until complete or almost complete clearing of psoriasis/eczema or until 50 exposures (over 16 weeks) have been reached, whichever comes first.
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Device: Phototherapy |
- The primary endpoint will be based on the change in visual cutaneous symptoms as measured by the modified ASI score [ Time Frame: Baseline, every four weeks up to 16 weeks, and at 24 weeks ]
- The overall change in physical appearance of the hand will be assessed by the global assessment [ Time Frame: Every four weeks up to 16 weeks, and at 24 weeks ]
- Adverse effects will be assessed every four weeks, including erythema, pruritus, and tanning. This will be assessed using the following scale: 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe. [ Time Frame: Every four weeks up to 16 weeks ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 19 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Chronic symmetrical severe hand psoriasis and eczema (allowing up to 15% difference in surface area between both hands). These include patients that have received topical corticosteroids previously and may or may have not responded to treatment.
- Subjects should be 18 years old or older.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any serious medical illness that will restrict the patient's ability to receive light treatments. That includes skin conditions, such as skin cancer or severe blistering conditions, or any serious medical conditions affecting the sensation of the extremities (eg. diabetic neuropathy, cervical stenosis).
- Patients known to have a photosensitivity disorder
- Patients with a history of intolerance to UVB and/or UVA light therapy.
- Any subject who is on treatment or was on treatment for hand psoriasis/eczema less than two (topical) or four (systemic/phototherapy) weeks prior to enrollment in the study.
- Pregnancy or breast-feeding.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01792245
Contact: Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC | harvey.lui@ubc.ca |
Canada, British Columbia | |
The Skin Care Center, Vancouver General Hospital | Recruiting |
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 4E8 | |
Contact: Harvey Lui, MD FRCPC 16048754111 harvey.lui@ubc.ca | |
Principal Investigator: Sunil Kalia, MD FRCPC |
Principal Investigator: | Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC | University of British Columbia |
Responsible Party: | University of British Columbia |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01792245 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
H12-02854 |
First Posted: | February 15, 2013 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | July 2, 2015 |
Last Verified: | June 2015 |
narrow band UVB; PUVA; psoriasis; eczema; hand |
Vitiligo Skin Diseases Hypopigmentation Pigmentation Disorders |