A MAJOR randomized clinical trial has demonstrated that home-based narrowband UV-B phototherapy is as effective as office-based treatment for patients with plaque or guttate psoriasis. The Light Treatment Effectiveness (LITE) study involved 783 participants from 42 academic and private clinical dermatology practices who were randomized to receive a home narrowband UV-B machine with guided mode dosimetry or routine care with office-based narrowband UV-B for 12 weeks, followed a 12-week observation period.
Joel M. Gelfand et al. found that home-based phototherapy was noninferior to office-based care across all skin tones. This finding is pertinent to how dermatologists treat psoriasis, particularly for those who face challenges in accessing in-office treatments. By the 12-weeks, 32.8% of patients using home phototherapy reached clear or nearly clear skin, and 52.4% reported little to no impact on their quality of life. These results were similar to office-based outcomes: 25.6% achieved clear skin and 33.6% reported improved quality of life.
Home-based phototherapy was linked to significantly better treatment adherence and lower indirect costs, such as transportation or time away from work. The therapy as well-tolerated; although, persistent erythema affected 5.9% of home treatments compared to 1.2% in the office-based group.
The LITE trial is the first to provide extensive clinical data on home phototherapy for a broad spectrum of patients, including those with darker skin tones. This study provides compelling evidence for dermatologists to consider home-based phototherapy as a viable and less burdensome alternative to office visits, offering improved flexibility and convenience without compromising efficacy.
Reference: Gelfand JM et al. Home- vs office-based narrowband UV-B phototherapy for patients with psoriasis: the LITE randomized clinical trial. JAMA Dermatol. 2024;doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.3897.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
