We report our experience in the treatment of four patients with prurit
us associated with polycythaemia vera with UVB phototherapy. A bank of
six 40-W tubes (Philips TL12) with an emission spectrum ranging from
290 to 320 nm (peak at 300 nm) was employed. The first irradiation dos
e was two-thirds of the minimal erythema dose (MED). The treatment sch
edule consisted of three irradiation sessions per week with dose incre
ments equal to root 2 each session. A complete remission of pruritus w
as achieved in three of the four patients after a mean of 24 treatment
s (total dose 11.94 J/cm(2)).