OBJECTIVES:
I. Evaluate the mechanisms of ultraviolet A-1 light therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and normal controls.
PROTOCOL OUTLINE:
Treatment with ultraviolet A-1 light is administered 5 days a week for 6 weeks, at the lowest dose or frequency required to maintain a response. The dose and frequency are progressively decreased over the next 9 weeks.
PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:
--Disease Characteristics--
Patients ages 15 to 70 with symptomatic systemic lupus erythematosus meeting American Rheumatism Association criteria and normal controls
--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--
No requirement for tetracycline or other photosensitizing drugs
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