These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Safety and therapeutic effectiveness of selected psoralens in psoriasis.
    Author: Wolff K, Hönigsmann H.
    Journal: Natl Cancer Inst Monogr; 1984 Dec; 66():159-64. PubMed ID: 6531023.
    Abstract:
    This review summarizes the most important facts regarding the clinical effectiveness of oral photochemotherapy for psoriasis with UV radiation at 320-400 nm (UVA) and selected furocoumarins. The most widely used compound is 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP); its effectiveness has been documented by many clinical trials. Oral 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) has been evaluated as an alternative drug because it is less erythemogenic and thus reduces the danger of accidental over-exposure. It has been as effective as 8-MOP in clearing psoriasis, but the UVA doses required were considerably higher. Although oral 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen does not clear psoriasis satisfactorily, excellent treatment results have been recorded when it was applied topically. The 3 drugs produce bifunctional adducts with DNA (cross-links), which may be of particular importance for mutagenesis and tumor formation. In an attempt to reduce possible oncogenic hazards, investigators are currently testing non-crosslinking furocoumarins for their therapeutic effectiveness. At present, these compounds are available for topical use only. 3-Carbethoxypsoralen has been reported to produce excellent treatment results by others but was ineffective in our clinical trials. Similarly disappointing was the application of 4,5'-dimethylangelicin and 5-methylangelicin. Although monofunctional compounds also inhibit cell proliferation in vitro, it appears that cross-linking is a prerequisite for the therapeutic success in psoriasis. The actual important of cross-links, however, remains to be clarified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]