Extensive burns caused by the abusive use of photosensitizing agents

Psoralens are photosensitizing agents used in dermatology as reinforcements in psoralen ultraviolet A-range therapy. We report observations of 14 young women hospitalized for severe burns caused by abusive use of psoralens. The burns were of superficial and deep second-degree depth and covered more...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of burn care & rehabilitation 1997-07, Vol.18 (4), p.321-325
Main Authors: BRAYE, F, LATARJET, J, FOYATIER, J. L, COMPARIN, J. P, TRANCHAND, P, BOUCAUD, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Burns
Burns - etiology
Burns - physiopathology
Female
Fluid Therapy
Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Length of Stay
Medical sciences
Methoxsalen - adverse effects
Middle Aged
Photosensitizing Agents - adverse effects
Substance-Related Disorders
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Psoralens are photosensitizing agents used in dermatology as reinforcements in psoralen ultraviolet A-range therapy. We report observations of 14 young women hospitalized for severe burns caused by abusive use of psoralens. The burns were of superficial and deep second-degree depth and covered more than 76% of the body surface on average. All patients needed fluid resuscitation. Hospital stay was 11 days on average. Healing was obtained without skin grafting in all cases. Among the six patients who responded to the mailed questionnaire, negative effects are now present in all patients as inflammatory peaks. Two patients have esthetic sequelae such as dyschromia and scars. The misuse of photosensitizing agents poses many problems. These accidents are very expensive. The largeness of the burned surface can involve a fatal prognosis. And finally, one can suspect that a much larger portion of the population regularly uses these products without any serious accident. In this case carcinogenesis can be expected.
ISSN:0273-8481
1534-5939
DOI:10.1097/00004630-199707000-00008