Supplementary Material for: Prevalence of Phototherapy in the Age of Biologics

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The prevalence of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) use in Europe for moderate and severe psoriasis is unknown, because national registries for psoriasis do not monitor this treatment. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> To quantify the use of phototherapy, biologics or conventional treatments in psoriasis, in a setting where European Medicines Agency (EMA) eligibility criteria for biologics were strictly applied, and phototherapy was included among first-line treatments. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We followed a cohort of 1,090 patients who were referred to the only centre entitled to prescribe biologics and phototherapy during a 5-year period. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The cumulative number of treatment cycles was: 1,047 with NB-UVB phototherapy, 650 with systemic treatments and 239 with biologics; 754 patients received at least 1 course of NB-UVB phototherapy, 422 at least 1 course with a systemic treatment and 137 with a biologic; 595 patients were treated only with phototherapy. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Regular use of NB-UVB as first-line treatment for moderate and severe psoriasis and adherence to the EMA eligibility criteria for biologics led to a relatively restricted use of biologics.