Thirty-four dermatology out-patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria and 34 with idiopathic generalized pruritus were investigated using standardized self-assessment psychological questionnaires to determine the incidence of significant symptoms of depression and anxiety. These patients were compared with age- and sex-matched but otherwise unselected general dermatology out-patients. Using the Beck depression inventory, significantly more patients with generalized pruritus (32.4%) had depressive symptomatology (score greater than 14) than controls (13.2%, P less than 0.05). Although more patients with chronic urticaria had depressive symptomatology (14.7%) than controls (4.4%), the difference was not statistically significant. Using the Speilberger state-trait anxiety inventory there were no significant differences between the patients with pruritus or urticaria and their controls with respect to state or trait anxiety scores above the upper 90% probability limit for the general population. Thus, significant depression may be expected in a substantial proportion of patients with idiopathic generalized pruritus but in a relatively small proportion of those with chronic urticaria.

The pulsed tunable dye laser (PTDL) is generally considered to have a very low incidence of adverse effects, allowing it to become the treatment of choice for the majority of port wine stains (PWS). The low incidence of adverse effects has led to difficulties in determining the true incidence and type of adverse effect seen with this laser. We therefore undertook a retrospective study of 701 patients with PWS, who received 3877 full treatments to determine the incidence and type of adverse effects seen following treatment with the PTDL. Blistering and crusting were seen in 5.9% an 0.7% of patients, respectively, but were transient events which usually healed without permanent sequelae. Hyper-pigmentation was the most frequently observed adverse effect seen in 9.1% of patients but generally showed gradual resolution over 6-12 months. Hypopigmentation was infrequent, seen in 1.4% of patients. The most significant adverse effects were atrophic and hypertrophic scarring seen in 4.3% and 0.7% of patients, respectively. Our observations show that there is a small but definite risk of atrophic scarring with a predisposition for younger patients. Hypertrophic scarring can occur albeit rarely and there may be predisposition towards the neck. In most cases test areas were not predictive of scarring. This underlines the need for a full discussion of scarring risk in patients with PWS undergoing treatment with the PTDL.

The success reported for the treatment of superficial skin carcinomas by photodynamic therapy with topical application of the photosensitizer precursor 5-aminolevulinic acid has therapeutic implications for the treatment of other skin disorders. This paper describes the accumulation of the photosensitizing agent protoporphyrin IX in areas of plaque psoriasis by monitoring of the fluorescence emission induced by low-intensity laser excitation at 488 nm. We present results from 15 patients with a total of 42 plaques and show that the characteristic fluorescence emission of protoporphyrin IX increases in intensity within the 6-h period following application of 5-ami-nolevulinic acid, suggesting that there is a potential for superficial photodynamic therapy. The rate of increase and maximum intensity of fluorescence emission was not directly related to the applied quantity of the precursor. The variability of the fluorescence intensity was as great between plaques at different sites on the same patient as between different patients. Also, the effect of plaque occlusion following application appeared insignificant. Although there was only limited enhancement of emission from areas of skin surrounding the plaque, a significant buildup of sensitizer was detected after several days in some areas of psoriasis that received no application.

We have investigated the clinical response of 22 patients with plaque psoriasis to photodynamic therapy using topical application of 5-aminolaevulinic acid followed by a single exposure to broad-band visible radiation. Light doses in the range 2-16 J/cm2 delivered at dose of 10-40 mW/ cm2 resulted in a variable clinical response. Seven (35%) patients showed clearing of psoriasis at some treated sites. The intensity of protoporphyrin IX fluorescence was recorded before, during and after treatment. Pre-illumination fluorescence intensity varied considerably between sites on the same patient and between patients. Protoporphyrin IX fluorescence recovered and persisted after treatment for up to 14 days and became higher than preillumination levels at 25% of sites. The rate of protoporphyrin IX photo-oxidation during treatment was proportional to both initial fluorescence intensity and incident light dose rate and was almost complete after 16 J/cm2. We have defined the photodynamic dose as the product of time-dependent protoporphyrin IX concentration and light dose and demonstrated that only in those patients who showed clearance of psoriasis was there a relationship between photodynamic dose and clinical response. Discomfort ranged from stinging through to burning, was significant in some patients and tended to be more severe with increasing photodynamic dose but was not predictable. Efficacy may improve by achieving consistent protoporphyrin IX levels or by using multiple treatments.

Eighty-five patients with extensive chronic plaque psoriasis, unresponsive to conventional topical therapy, were treated with long-term hydroxyurea in a dose of 0.5-1.5 g daily. Fifty-two (61%) had a satisfactory remission during treatment without significant adverse effects. Treatment was discontinued in 33 patients (39%), due to an inadequate response or significant relapse during treatment and because of adverse reactions (19%). Four (4.7%) patients on hydroxyurea developed actinic psoriasis. Significant haematological abnormalities occurred in 30 patients (35%), but these became normal following a reduction in the dose of hydroxyurea or temporarily stopping the drug. In only six was it considered necessary to discontinue treatment because of bone marrow suppression. Our experience suggests that hydroxyurea is an effective long-term treatment for psoriasis that is refractory to conventional topical therapy and that the incidence of serious adverse effects compares favourably with other cytotoxic drugs.