ABSTRACT

The acronym PUVA was originally introduced to describe oral methoxsalen photochemotherapy or, more specifically, the combination of oral administration of methoxsalen and subsequent exposure to an artificial source of UVA radiation. The term has been broadened in common usage to include therapy with other psoralens, topical administration of the photosensitizer, and use of the sun as the source of radiation. These variations should be defined to avoid confusion, e.g., topical trisoralen PUVA therapy. This chapter is restricted mainly to a discussion of oral methoxsalen photochemotherapy, since it is the most frequently used form of the treatment, and the variations will be discussed at the end.