Interesting research paper that suggests that light treatment (phototherapy), has no significant effect on autoantibody levels and does not induce photosensitive diseases like lupus. I remember one of my senior dermatologist colleagues being quite worried about administering phototherapy to patients with positive ANA antibodies of 1:640 (what is considered normal for approx 5% of the population). I am happy that this question has now been answered (though not quite directly).

Effect of narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy on production of antinuclear antibodies

Article first published online: 6 MAR 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2012.01519.x

© 2012 Japanese Dermatological Association

Issue

The Journal of Dermatology

Volume 39, Issue 8, pages 733–734, August 2012