Bath-PUVA therapy in three patients with scleredema adultorum.

BACKGROUND

Scleredema adultorum (SA) is a rare connective tissue disorder for which no treatment has proven to be effective.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine the effect of bath-PUVA therapy on SA.

METHODS

Three patients were treated. Clinical evaluation of skin induration and thickness as well as ultrasonography were performed at baseline and after treatment.

RESULTS

All three patients showed substantial clinical improvement with bath-PUVA therapy (median of 59 treatments and a cumulative UVA dose of 245.7 J/cm2). Ultrasonography showed significant reduction in both skin thickness and density.

CONCLUSION

Bath-PUVA therapy appears to be effective in the treatment of SA.