UVB phototherapy for pruritus in polycythaemia vera

We report our experience in the treatment of four patients with pruritus associated with polycythaemia vera with UVB phototherapy. A bank of six 40-W tubes (Philips TL12) with an emission spectrum ranging from 290 to 320 nm (peak at 300 nm) was employed. The first irradiation dose was two-thirds of the minimal erythema dose (MED). The treatment schedule consisted of three irradiation sessions per week with dose increments equal to 2 each session. A complete remission of pruritus was achieved in three of the four patients after a mean of 24 treatments (total dose 11.94 J/cm2).