A review of photodiagnostic investigations over 26 years:experience of the National Scottish Photobiology Service (1989-2015)

Background The Scottish Photobiology Service is the national referral pathway for patients with cutaneous photosensitivity diseases in Scotland. We reviewed the pattern of diagnosis of photosensitivity diseases and investigations performed between 1989 and 2015. Methods and Results Data were collected from the Photodiagnostic Database, annual reports and paper records. The total number of patients assessed each year was stable over the period studied (median 242 [range 231–266]), with most being new patients (median 69 [range 62–73]%). Monochromator phototesting was the most utilised investigation, although the use of provocation testing and photopatch testing has increased. The most common diagnosis was polymorphic light eruption, and there was a trend to increasing diagnosis of photoaggravated atopic eczema. Conclusions The pattern of diagnosis of photosensitivity diseases remains fairly stable in Scotland and we wish to emphasise the importance of this Scottish specialist service for patients with photosensitivity diseases and referrers

Phototherapy in the treatment of skin disease in Scotland

This thesis discusses some aspects of the use of ultraviolet rays to treat skin disease. The early history of dermatological phototherapy in Scotland is summarised as an introduction to the more recent developments described in a chapter on the Scottish phototherapy and photochemotherapy audit of 1996/1997 (funded by the Clinical Resource and Audit Group, the Scottish Office). This audit revealed some aspects of the phototherapy service that could be improved, and identified areas of particular importance for future research. Firstly, what type of UVB phototherapy lamp is most effective: the narrow-band (311-313nm) TL-01 lamp, or the broad-band UVB lamp? A meta-analysis conducted as part of this thesis gave a clear answer. TL-01 UVB is much more effective than broad-band UVB. The second included study was a randomised, controlled study that has contributed to deciding the optimal treatment frequency for TL-01 UVB phototherapy of psoriasis. Although 5x weekly treatment cleared psoriasis slightly more quickly than 3x weekly treatment, the difference in speed of clearance was too small to warrant the significantly greater frequency of acute erythema during treatment, and the greater number of exposures and dose required. The final question, answered by a randomised, controlled trial, in conjunction with a systematic review of the previous literature, was: for chronic plaque psoriasis, is TL-01 UVB or psoralen-UVA photochemotherapy to be preferred? The study conducted for this thesis showed TL-01 UVB to be more effective. Heterogeneity in findings of the studies addressing this question highlighted the importance of the particular treatment regimens selected for comparison, but the overall conclusion was that TL-01 UVB is the first choice of these two therapies