Light Therapy for Eczema

(BRONTE Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen by Aaron M Drucker

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Women's College Hospital

Must not be taking: Phototherapy, Systemic biologics, Corticosteroids

Disqualifiers: Other trials, others

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing two types of light therapy to find out which is better for treating eczema. It focuses on patients who haven't had success with other treatments. The light therapy helps by reducing skin inflammation and repairing the skin barrier.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

You may need to stop certain medications before joining the trial. If you're using phototherapy, oral immune-modulating drugs, or systemic biologics, you must stop them 30 to 90 days before starting. However, topical, intralesional, or inhaled corticosteroids are allowed.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment for eczema?

Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy is a well-established and effective treatment for eczema, as well as other skin conditions like psoriasis and vitiligo. Studies suggest that NB-UVB is more effective than broadband UVB (BB-UVB) for these conditions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is light therapy safe for treating eczema?

Light therapy, including both broadband and narrowband UVB, is generally considered safe for treating skin conditions like eczema, but there is some concern about a potential increased risk of skin cancer with narrowband UVB. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

How is light therapy for eczema different from other treatments?

Light therapy for eczema, specifically using narrowband UVB (NB-UVB), is unique because it uses a specific wavelength of ultraviolet light to reduce inflammation and improve skin conditions. This treatment is particularly effective for moderate to severe cases and is often used when other treatments have not worked well. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Research Team

Aaron M Drucker

Principal Investigator

Women's College Hospital

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for people with moderate to severe eczema who haven't improved after using topical treatments. They must meet specific criteria for eczema severity and have not used certain medications like systemic biologics, corticosteroids, or immune-modulating agents recently.

Inclusion Criteria

My condition is severe despite using creams or ointments.

Your doctor has determined that your condition is severe, scoring 3 or 4 out of 4.

I have been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis.

Exclusion Criteria

I haven't taken biologic or experimental drugs in the last 90 days.

I haven't taken immune-modulating drugs or had phototherapy in the last 30 days.

I haven't taken oral or intramuscular steroids in the last 30 days.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either Narrowband or Broadband UVB phototherapy three times weekly

12 weeks

36 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Broadband UVB phototherapy (Procedure)
• Narrowband UVB phototherapy (Procedure)

Trial Overview The study compares two types of UVB phototherapy: Narrowband and Broadband, to see which one better improves eczema symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of these treatments as part of the larger CACTI study on skin health.

Participant Groups

Group I: Narrowband UVB Active Control 1 Intervention

Narrowband UVB phototherapy (full body) administered three times weekly according to individual clinical protocols.

Group II: Broadband UVB Active Control 1 Intervention

Broadband UVB phototherapy (full body) administered three times weekly according to individual clinical protocols.

Broadband UVB phototherapy is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as Broadband UVB phototherapy for:

• Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

Find a Clinic Near You

Research Locations Nearby Select from list below to view details:

Women's College Hospital Toronto, Canada

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Women's College Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

108

Patients Recruited

43,700+

University of British Columbia

Collaborator

Trials

1506

Patients Recruited

2,528,000+

McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Collaborator

Trials

476

Patients Recruited

170,000+

University of Toronto

Collaborator

Trials

739

Patients Recruited

1,125,000+

Findings from Research

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of paediatric eczema with narrowband ultraviolet light B therapy. Hunjan, MK., Brockley, JR., Buka, R., et al.[2021]

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy in children with moderate-to-severe eczema: a comparative cohort study. Darné, S., Leech, SN., Taylor, AE.[2022]

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Narrow-band ultraviolet B and broad-band ultraviolet A phototherapy in adult atopic eczema: a randomised controlled trial. Reynolds, NJ., Franklin, V., Gray, JC., et al.[2015]

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Phototoxicity of narrowband ultraviolet (UV) B (311 nm) compared with broadband UVB in the photo hen's egg test. Bafteh, PR., Siegesmund, M., Kuerten, V., et al.[2016]

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Narrow-band ultraviolet B treatment for vitiligo, pruritus, and inflammatory dermatoses. Samson Yashar, S., Gielczyk, R., Scherschun, L., et al.[2021]

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Possible clinical efficacy and tolerability of platelet-rich plasma with atopic dermatitis. Yosef, A., Elkady, N., Khattab, F.[2021]

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The challenge of follow-up in narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy. Diffey, BL., Farr, PM.[2016]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of paediatric eczema with narrowband ultraviolet light B therapy. [2021]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy in children with moderate-to-severe eczema: a comparative cohort study. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Narrow-band ultraviolet B and broad-band ultraviolet A phototherapy in adult atopic eczema: a randomised controlled trial. [2015]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Phototoxicity of narrowband ultraviolet (UV) B (311 nm) compared with broadband UVB in the photo hen's egg test. [2016]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Narrow-band ultraviolet B treatment for vitiligo, pruritus, and inflammatory dermatoses. [2021]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Possible clinical efficacy and tolerability of platelet-rich plasma with atopic dermatitis. [2021]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The challenge of follow-up in narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy. [2016]