The effect of PUVA treatment on sister chromatid exchange (SCE) values in psoriasis vulgaris patients.

Psoralen+ultraviolet A (UVA) (PUVA) is used successfully in the treatment of several skin diseases including psoriasis. PUVA has been reported to cause skin cancers, especially when used in high doses. In vivo and in vitro effects of different mutagens and carcinogens on DNA may be detected by sister chromatid exchange (SCE).To investigate the mutagenic effects of different PUVA doses on DNA with SCE analysis.Forty-two psoriasis patients under PUVA treatment were included in the study as the study group. The control group consisted of 22 psoriasis patients who did not receive PUVA treatment. The study group was divided into three groups according to PUVA doses. SCE/cell values were compared in the study and control groups and in the three dose-dependent groups of the study group.Mean SCE/cell values of the three dose-dependent patient groups were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.001), whereas there was not a statistically significant difference in themselves.PUVA treatment seemed to increase SCE values; however, there was not a correlation between PUVA doses and SCE frequencies.