Uv therapy protocol for treatment of non-dermatological chronic conditions

Abstract

Methods for a generally safe and effective therapy to lower excessive and chronic inflammation via the promotion of the body's powerful anti-inflammatory Interleukin-10 cytokine and re-activation of dormant T regulatory cells are provided. The methods balance the safety and efficacy of both Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Treg optimization with excessive risk of UV overexposure to treat and improve several chronic non-dermatological conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a non-dermatological autoimmune condition or other chronic non-dermatological condition in a subject with a pause and reset phototherapy protocol, comprising:
 administering ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy for a first set of phototherapy treatments having escalating dosage levels over time, wherein the first set of phototherapy treatments are defined by a pause and reset phototherapy protocol;   pausing treatment for a pause period, wherein the pause period has a length of time that is based on the pause and reset phototherapy protocol, and wherein the length of time is at least about two weeks; and   administering UVB therapy for a second set of phototherapy treatments having escalating dosage levels over time, wherein the second set of phototherapy treatments are defined by a pause and reset phototherapy protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of phototherapy treatments are delivered over a first period of time, wherein the first period of time is defined by the pause and reset phototherapy protocol, and wherein the length of time of the pause period is less than the first period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second set of phototherapy treatments are delivered over a second period of time and wherein the first period of time is substantially the same as the second period of time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first set of phototherapy treatments and the second set of phototherapy treatments each comprise less than 30 phototherapy treatments. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first period of time has a ratio to the first pause period in the range of 2:1 to 12:1. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the length of time of the pause period is based on measured YKL-40 levels of the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the length of time of the pause period is based on measured YKL-40 levels of the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-dermatological condition is atherosclerosis. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-dermatological condition is Multiple Sclerosis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the length of time of the pause period is based on measured YKL-40 levels of the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-dermatological condition is asthma. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-dermatological condition is irritable bowel disease. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-dermatological condition is vasculitis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-dermatological condition is Parkinson's. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the length of time of the pause period is less than about four weeks. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 subsequent to administering UVB therapy for the second set of phototherapy treatments, pausing treatment for a second pause period, wherein the second pause period has a length of time that is based on the pause and reset phototherapy protocol; and   administering UVB therapy for a third set of phototherapy treatments having escalating dosage levels over time, wherein the third set of phototherapy treatments are defined by a pause and reset phototherapy protocol.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pause period is a first pause period, and wherein the second pause period has the same length as the first pause period. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pause period is a first pause period, and wherein the second pause period has a different length than the first pause period. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 administering a disease-modifying therapy in conjunction with the administration of the first set of phototherapy treatments and the second set of phototherapy treatments.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 administering glatiramer acetate in conjunction with the administration of the first set of phototherapy treatments and the second set of phototherapy treatments.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-dermatological autoimmune condition is rheumatoid arthritis. 
     
     
         22 . A method of treating a chronic non-dermatological condition in a subject, comprising:
 administering ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy for a first set of phototherapy treatments, the first set of phototherapy treatments having a first initial dosage level and a first final dosage level, wherein the first initial dosage level is less than the first final dosage level; and   in conjunction with the administration of the first set of phototherapy treatments, administering a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) to the subject for treatment of the chronic non-dermatological condition.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the chronic non-dermatological condition is rheumatoid arthritis. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the chronic non-dermatological condition is Multiple Sclerosis. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the chronic non-dermatological condition is inflammatory bowel disease. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the chronic non-dermatological condition is ulcerative colitis. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the chronic non-dermatological condition is Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the chronic non-dermatological condition is diabetes type 1. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 pausing treatment for a pause period, wherein the pause period has a length of time that is based on a pause and reset phototherapy protocol, and wherein the length of time is at least about two weeks; and   administering UVB therapy for a second set of phototherapy treatments, the second set of phototherapy treatments having a second initial dosage level and a second final dosage level, wherein the second initial dosage level is less than the second final dosage level; and   in conjunction with the administration of the second set of phototherapy treatments, administering the DMT to the subject for treatment of the chronic non-dermatological condition.   
     
     
         30 . A method of treating Multiple Sclerosis in a subject with a pause and reset phototherapy protocol, comprising:
 administering ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy for a first set of phototherapy treatments having escalating dosage levels over time, wherein the first set of phototherapy treatments are defined by a pause and reset phototherapy protocol;   pausing treatment for a pause period, wherein the pause period has a length of time that is based on the pause and reset phototherapy protocol, and wherein the length of time is at least about two weeks; and   administering UVB therapy for a second set of phototherapy treatments having escalating dosage levels over time, wherein the second set of phototherapy treatments are defined by a pause and reset phototherapy protocol.