Background: Photochemotherapy is a well-established effective line of psoriasis
treatment. However, folic acid deficiency was reported among psoriatic patients
undergoing photochemotherapy.
Aim: to determine the impact of PUVA on serum FA levels in psoriatic patients and if
there is any role for priming by FA supplemental therapy (FAST) on this effect.
Subjects & Methods: 62 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were included. Patients were
randomly divided into two study groups,; patients of FAST group received FA
supplementation prior to PUVA sessions and the control group which received PUVA
sessions only (didn’t receive folic acid). Serum FA levels were estimated at baseline
and at the end of treatment sessions using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
technique.
Results: post-PUVA serum FA levels were significantly decreased in comparison to
pre-PUVA levels in patients of both groups, but patients of FAST group had
significantly higher post-PUVA serum FA levels in comparison to that of the control
group with significantly lower percentage of decrease in serum FA levels. PUVA
therapy significantly reduced post-PUVA PASI score in comparison to pre- PUVA
scores of patients of both groups with non-significant differences between studied
groups.
Conclusion: PUVA drastically affects serum FA. Priming of psoriasis patients for two
weeks with FAST before start of PUVA could minimize this effect without affecting
the outcomes of radiation therapy