The Risk of Photochemotherapy.

The side effect of phototherapy with 8-methoxypsoralen was divided in short- and long-term damage. From 1969 until 1980 2,013 patients were treated. The pattern of alteration by PUVA depends on doses, continuance of therapy, and type of dermatoses. The spontaneous development of tumors, the initiating or promotion of tumors by PUVA, as well as a regression of tumors by PUVA has to be taken into account regarding the absolute numbers of tumors after PUVA therapy. The risk of the PUVA therapy depends on the doses and continuance of the treatment including the combination with other sources of radiations or natural sun-exposition. The possibilities lower the total doses of light energy by drug combinations are discussed according the recommendation of several teams in Germany. The quality of the remaining years of a patient's life is the limiting factor in deciding whether a risk is involved in photochemotherapy. The risk only involved the skin. The stress of chemotherappy on patients with additional pathologic conditions can be controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]