Ultraviolet light phototherapy for allergic rhinitis

Phototherapy has a profound immunosuppressive effect and is widely used for the treatment of immune mediated skin diseases. Phototherapy is able to inhibit immediate type hypersensitivity reaction in the skin. Intranasal phototherapy is a new approach for treatment of allergic rhinitis. In two open studies, 308 nm excimer laser and topical PUVA therapy efficiently inhibited clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis. In a randomized, double-blind study combined low dose UVB, low dose UVA and visible light proved to be effective in reducing symptom scores for sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal itching and the total nasal score in ragweed allergic patients. Mechanism of action of phototherapy is complex, it reduces the antigen presenting capacity of dendritic cells, induces apoptosis of immune cells and inhibits synthesis and release of pro-inflammatory mediator from several cell types. Therefore, intranasal phototherapy may represent an alternative treatment of allergic rhinitis and other inflammatory and immune mediated mucosal diseases.