Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) therapy combined with ultraviolet B light therapy in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.METHODS: Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis(skin lesion area > 10% of the body surface area) for 2 consecutive years were treated with TCM(oral and external use of herbal medicines, acupuncture, and herbal bathing) and narrow-band medium-wave ultraviolet B light treatment for 12 weeks.The treatment effect was evaluated based on the Psoriasis Area Severity Index(PASI), the achievement of a 50% reduction in the PASI(PASI50), the achievement of a 75% reduction in the PASI(PASI75), pruritus score, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and safety.RESULTS: A total of 95 outpatients were enrolled,and 92 subjects(96.8%) completed the 12-week treatment course.At baseline, the average proportion of the body surface area covered by skin lesions was 12.4%, and the average PASI was 17.7.All patients had previously been treated with conventional medicine(89.1% of patients received ultraviolet light treatment, 50.0% received glucocorticoids, and 21.7% received acitretin).After the 12-week treatment course, 22 patients(23.9%)achieved PASI75, and 43(46.7%) achieved PASI50.The post-treatment pruritus score and Dermatology Life Quality Index of all treated patients were significantly lower than the respective baseline values(P < 0.0001).No adverse effects were detected by the monitoring of blood, urine, stools, liver and kidney function, and echocardiography.CONCLUSION: Comprehensive therapy comprising TCM therapy combined with ultraviolet B light therapy achieved good outcomes for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

Key words: Psoriasis, Ultraviolet therapy, Medicine,Chinese Traditional, Quality of life