Psoralen photochemotherapy

Psoralen photochemotherapy
A type of therapy in which the patient is exposed first to psoralens (drugs containing chemicals that react with ultraviolet light to cause darkening of the skin) and then to ultraviolet A (UVA light). Psoralen photochemotherapy is also called PUVA (from psoralen + UVA). PUVA is, for instance, used to treat vitiligo (white patches on the skin). It is time-consuming and care must be taken to avoid side effects, which can sometimes be severe. The treatment involves taking psoralen by mouth (orally) or applying it to the skin (topically). This is followed by carefully timed exposure to ultraviolet A (UVA) light from a special lamp or to sunlight. Patients usually receive treatments in their doctors' offices so they can be carefully watched for any side effects. Patients must minimize exposure to sunlight at other times. The goal of PUVA therapy in vitiligo is to repigment the white patches.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Photochemotherapy, psoralen — A type of therapy in which the patient is exposed first to psoralens (drugs containing chemicals that react with ultraviolet light to cause darkening of the skin) and then to ultraviolet A (UVA light). Psoralen photochemotherapy is also called… …   Medical dictionary

  • photochemotherapy — SYN: photoradiation. * * * pho·to·che·mo·ther·a·py .kē mō ther ə pē n, pl pies treatment esp. for psoriasis in which administration of a photosensitizing drug (as psoralen) is followed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation or sunlight * * * n. see …   Medical dictionary

  • Фотохемотерапия (Puva, Photochemotherapy) — псорален + ультрафиолет А: сочетание светочувствительного лекарственного вещества псоралена (psoralen) с облучением пораженных участков ультрафиолетовыми лучами большой длины волны (315 400 нм). Данный метод применяется с древних времен в… …   Медицинские термины

  • PUVA — stands for psoralen and ultraviolet A (UVA) therapy in which the patient is exposed first to psoralens (drugs containing chemicals that react with ultraviolet light to cause darkening of the skin) and then to UVA light. PUVA is, for instance,… …   Medical dictionary

  • PUVA — photochemotherapy psoralen + ultraviolet A: the combination of a psoralen (a light sensitive drug) and exposure to long wave (315–400 nm) ultraviolet light (UVA). It was used in the East in ancient times, with natural sunlight as the light source …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • PUVA therapy — [psoralen + ultraviolet A] a form of photochemotherapy for skin disorders such as psoriasis and vitiligo; oral psoralen administration is followed two hours later by exposure to ultraviolet A …   Medical dictionary

  • PUVA — is a Psoralen + UVA treatment for Eczema, Psoriasis and Vitiligo, and mycosis fungoides [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve db=PubMed list uids=8507078 dopt=Abstract] . The Psoralen is applied or taken orally to sensitize… …   Wikipedia

  • Ultraviolet — UV redirects here. For other uses, see UV (disambiguation). UVB redirects here. For the mysterious shortwave radio station in Russia, see UVB 76. For other uses, see Ultraviolet (disambiguation). False color image of the Sun s corona as seen in… …   Wikipedia

  • PUVA — steht als Abkürzung für Psoralen plus UV A, wobei mit dieser Kombination von langwelligem UV Licht und dem als Naturstoff in den ätherischen Ölen verschiedener Pflanzen vorkommenden Psoralen dessen photosensibilisierende Eigenschaften zu… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Psoralène — Général Nom IUPAC 7H furo[3,2 g]chromèn 7 one ou 7H furo[3,2 g]benzopyran 7 one No CAS …   Wikipédia en Français

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