Reducing Severity, Extent of Atopic Dermatitis With PRP Injections and NB-UVB

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections with concomitant narrowband-ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy was associated with significant reductions in the extent and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD), according to research findings published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

In this study, a small team of researchers from Egypt assessed 44 patients with moderate to severe AD who were seen in an outpatient dermatology department. Each patient in this study underwent NB-UVB twice a week for a maximum of 12 weeks on the left side of the body. The right side of the body was treated with the active intervention comprising both NB-UVB and PRP intradermal injection, administered at 3-week intervals for up to 3 months.

The mean age of the study population was 28±5.65 years. In addition, the average Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores of the men and women participating in the study were 75.64 and 67.50 years, respectively. Study investigators continued to assess the EASI score throughout the study to determine the efficacy of the combined treatment.

The side of the body that received both NB-UVB and PRP intradermal injections had a significantly greater mean absolute reduction in EASI from baseline to 4 weeks (1.41 ± 3.41 vs −2.71 ± 1.25; P <.001) and 12 weeks (−7.39±1.71 vs −6.64±1.75; P <.003).

At 12 weeks, the side of the body exposed to the combined intervention had a significantly greater reduction in total EASI (74.5% vs 65.2%; P <.001), EASI 50 (98.8% vs 88.9%; P <.001), EASI 75 (52.5% vs 21.2%; P <.009), IGA score (91.5% vs 77.8%; P <.001), and VAS (94.7% vs 83.8%; P =.016) compared with the side exposed only to NB-UVB.

Significantly fewer sessions of the combined PRP and NB-UVB intervention were required for lesion clearance compared with the PRP-only regimen (16.40±2.799 vs 23.33±1.212, respectively; P <.05).

No side effects were observed in 45.4% of patients, and 54.6% reported post-injection pain and ecchymosis.

At 6 months after treatment, a significantly greater percentage of patients exposed to only NV-UVB experienced lesion recurrence (13.6% vs 4.5%; P <.021).

Limitations of this study included its single-center design, small number of patients, the lack of a randomized protocol, and the relatively short follow-up period.

Based on their findings, the researchers concluded “PRP is considered to be excellent safety profile with satisfactory efficacy in the treatment of adults with chronic eczema.”

Reference

Yosef A, Elkady N, Khattab F. Possible clinical efficacy and tolerability of platelet-rich plasma with atopic dermatitis. J Cosmet Dermatol. Published online June 11, 2021. doi:10.1111/jocd.14170