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Important New Medical Study:
"Are Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B Home Units a Viable Option for Continuous or
Maintenance Therapy of Photoresponsive Skin Diseases?"
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By Kay-Anne Haykal and Jean-Pierre DesGroseilliers
From the University of Ottawa Division of Dermatology; Phototherapy Clinics,
Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus; and Sisters of Charity Ottawa Health Service,
Elisabeth Bruyere Health Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Reprinted with permission from Volume 10, Issue 5,
of the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery;
an official publication of the Canadian Dermatology Association.
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In 2006, after several years of prescribing Narrowband UVB home phototherapy for patients that
"had already responded favorably to phototherapy" at one of the Ottawa clinics,
this independent study was undertaken to assess "the viability and safety of such treatment".
It was concluded:
"NB-UVB home phototherapy was found to be very effective in comparison with hospital therapy.
It is safe and presents few side effects when patients receive appropriate guidelines,
teaching and follow-ups. Not only is it convenient,
it also provides effective savings for the patients who are unable to attend the hospital owing to time,
travel, and interference with work schedule.
All patients on home therapy were satisfied with their treatment, plan to continue it,
and recommend it to others in similar situations."
Click here or on the picture to download the complete article. (189kB pdf)
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A summary of the article's FACTS are:
(With direct quotes from the article in "quotation marks".)
- Twenty-five patients took part in the study; 12 women and 13 men.
- The mean age was 49 years. Ages ranged from 10 to 72 years old.
- Of the 25 patients; 20 had psoriasis, 2 had vitiligo, 2 had mycosis fungoides,
and 1 had atopic dermatitis.
- "The duration on home therapy varied from 2 weeks to 1.5 years,
and the number of treatments to date was in the range of 10 to 200 treatments."
- All patients "had already responded favorably to phototherapy" at one of the Ottawa clinics.
- All patients used Narrowband UVB home phototherapy devices with Philips /01 311nm bulbs.
- All patients used Solarc/SolRx home phototherapy devices exclusively.
- Of the Solarc/SolRx devices used; 18 were 1000 Series full body panels
(1760UVB-NB and 1780UVB-NB) and 7 were 500 Series Hand/Foot & Spot devices (550UVB-NB).
- The survey consisted of approximately 30 questions.
See the Appendix in the article for the actual questions.
- "Solarc Systems Inc. provided no financial support for this study."
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A summary of the article's FINDINGS are:
(With direct quotes from the article in "quotation marks".)
- "Twenty-four (96%) viewed the home unit approach to be effective,
and only one patient was not yet convinced."
(That patient had the device only for 2 weeks.)
- "All patients agreed that they would continue the treatment; they would repeat it,
and they would recommend it."
- "Few patients reported any side effects."
- "12 patients (48%) described their improvement to be marked,
12 patients said that it was average and only 1 patient reported that it was minimal."
- "In comparison between home versus hospital phototherapy,
6 patients (25%) regarded home treatment to be superior, 12 patients (48%) had similar results,
and 7 patients viewed the hospital therapy as more effective."
- "Twenty-four patients (96%) believed that the information received by SolArc Systems Inc.
was helpful."
- "Twenty-three patients (92%) felt that the ease of operation of the home unit was high,
and only two patients said that it was average."
- "Nurses and dermatologists who do not operate a phototherapy center should be aware of the detailed instructions provided by SolArc Systems Inc..
Their role becomes more one of professional follow-up rather than one of education on the operation of the home unit."
(Acknowledging the usefulness of the Solarc/SolRx Users Manual.)
- "Over time, it seems that all patients achieve appropriate clearing and recommend home treatment."
- "More than half of the patients were on maintenance treatment as they have acheived resolution of the lesions.
It appears that long-term maintenance can be achieved with doses less than one-quarter the minimum erythema dose."
(Suggesting that once clearing is acheived,
only low UVB-NB doses are needed to maintain substantially lesion-free skin.)
- "The main reasons for choosing home phototherapy were fewer travel expenses,
less time required, less difficulty with work schedule, and recommendationi by the dermatologist."
- "Sixteen patients (64%) felt that the home phototherapy generated fewer expenses,
with the monthly savings varying from $20 to $600 depending on the distance traveled and associated expenses and on the work hours missed."
- These findings are consistent with the customer feedback Solarc has received in our
Testimonials
webpage.
Click here to download the complete article. (189kB pdf)
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Solarc Systems would like to thank Dr. Kay-Anne Haykal, Dr. Jean-Pierre DesGroseilliers
and all the staff at the Elisabeth Bruyere and Ottawa Civic Hospitals
for completing this study, and their purity of purpose.
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Physician approval / prescription is required for all ultraviolet home phototherapy device and UV bulb orders.
Solarc Systems Inc., 1515 Snow Valley Road, Minesing (Barrie), Ontario, Canada L0L 1Y3
Toll Free: 1.866.813.3357 Tel: 705.739.8279 Fax 705.739.9684
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