UVA-1 for Treatment of Skin Tightening and Improvement of Hand Function in Scleroderma

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · Apr 30, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Systemic sclerosis (SSc), also called scleroderma, is a rare chronic autoimmune disease that can have a wide range of cutaneous, joint, and internal organ involvement. In the skin, SSc is characterized by enhanced fibroblast activity leading to hypertrophic dermal collagen that results in thickened, less flexible skin. (Hassani, 2016) SSc is often divided into two types based on extent of cutaneous involvement: diffuse SSc and limited SSc. The hand is a frequent area of involvement in both subtypes of SSc. Hand disability in SSc leads to a high burden on quality of life for patients as it l...

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Must be able to understand and provide written informed consent
• • Scleroderma skin involvement affecting both hands approximately equally
• • Age of at least 18-years-old
• • Male or female
• • Ability to engage in twice weekly UVA1 sessions
• • No changes in systemic therapy during the first 100 days of the study period
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • On photosensitizing medication
• • Inability to complete study visits
• • UV light therapy in the 4 weeks prior to entering the study
• • Commercial tanning or excessive sun exposure in the 4 weeks prior to entering the study
• • Current pregnancy or planned pregnancy during the study period
• • Use of topical therapies other than emollients (suprapotent corticosteroids) in the 2 weeks prior to entering the study
• • History of intolerance to ultraviolet light
• • Any other condition that will disqualify the patient from the study in the opinion of the investigator