Assessment of vascular patterns during the treatment of psoriatic patients using narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy by the dermoscope

BackgroundPhototherapy is a traditional treatment for psoriasis and patients using it for a long time may be exposed to cumulative toxicity, so dermatologists need continuously diagnostic tools that help in monitoring the disease progression. ObjectivesTo detect dermoscopic changes with the improvement of skin in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis on narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy and evaluate the role of dermoscopy in monitoring the patients. MethodsNarrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy was prescribed to thirty (30) patients with chronic plaque psoriasis for three months according to their disease condition. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI score) were calculated, and dermoscopic evaluation was done at the first visit (W0), after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks of beginning the phototherapy. ResultsAccording to PASI score calculations, a significant correlation was found between changes in the vessel patterns and the improvement that occurred during the treatment sessions in psoriatic lesions, whereas the patients with globular blood vessels were significantly associated with weak clinical results. ConclusionDermoscopy is a rapid, simple tool to predict the response of psoriatic patients to phototherapy using vascular pattern assessment.