The Effects of Narrow Band Ultraviolet B (UVB) Phototherapy on Vitamin D levels in patients with Psoriasis and Broad band Ultraviolet B and A used for dermatitis

Patients with psoriasis and severe dermatitis will attend 3 times weekly for a minimal of 6 and in many case 10 or more weeks. Each treatment is on average 5 minutes. There are no phototherapy cabinets in the hospital public system. Patients will enter phototherapy cabinets located at the Fremantle Dermatology Clinic. They all start on a low dose according to their skin type and are pushed up in dosage depending on their response to treatment. All that is different is we will be drawing pre and in treatment blood to measure Vitamin D levels. The minimum dose for Phototherapy is 0.05 joules and the maximum dose is 1.20 joules for Narrowband UVB and UVA. Pre-treatment and post treatment bloods will be 5ml each time. For Vitamin D Assay an amount of 1/2 - 1 SST tube needs to be taken (ie max 5mls). All patients will have at least a minimal of 4-6 weeks of treatment at three times a week. This would be a minimum requirement to a Phototherapy patient to achieve some therapeutic response. In regards to those that achieve a very good response, we will be titrating their treatment. Those that require a longer response will continue on. It is suggested that we chase the Vitamin D at the 6 week margin automatically so that all patients will have standardised 3 times week treatment course for 6 weeks.