The UPDATE trial (UVBPhototherapy in Dermatology for ATopic Eczema): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of narrowband UVB with optimal topical therapy versus optimal topical therapy in patients with atopic eczema

Eva Knöps*, Phyllis Spuls, Ruben Duijnhoven, Marcel Dijkgraaf, Marit van Barreveld, Bernd Arents, Annefloor van Enst, Floor Garritsen, Maruschka Merkus, Pina Middelkamp-Hup, Annelie Musters, Angela Bosma, Ariënna Hyseni, Jitske Dijkstra, Dirk Jan Hijnen, Louise Gerbens

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Background: 

Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is commonly prescribed for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic eczema (AE). The efficacy of NB-UVB, however, has not yet properly been established, as current evidence is of low certainty. Our aim is to assess the short-term and long-term (cost-)effectiveness and safety of NB-UVB in adult AE patients by performing a pragmatic, multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) trial. This protocol outlines its methodology. 

Methods: 

A pragmatic, multicenter, PROBE trial will be performed with 1:1 randomization of 316 adult patients with moderate-to-severe AE who have inadequate disease control with topical therapy and who are eligible for optimal topical therapy (OTT) or NB-UVB in combination with OTT as a next step. Participants in the interventional arm will receive a minimum of 3 months of OTT combined with 8 to 16 weeks of NB-UVB. The control group receives 3 months of OTT. Following the interventional phase, follow-up will continue for 9 months. Physician-reported and patient-reported outcomes (according to the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) Core Outcome Set) and adverse events are assessed at 4 weeks, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. 

Discussion: 

The UPDATE trial aims to provide high-quality evidence regarding the (cost-)effectiveness and safety of NB-UVB phototherapy in moderate-to-severe AE patients. Challenges that are addressed in the protocol include the possible bias arising from applying open-label treatment and the necessity of introducing OTT into the study design to prevent a high dropout rate.

Trial registration: 

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05704205. Registered on December 8, 2022.

Original languageEnglish
Article number482
Number of pages12
JournalTrials
Volume25
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Jul 2024

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Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

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