COVID hospital deaths reduced 2X by 8 days of UVB – pilot RCT May 2022

Pilot Phase Results of a Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial of Narrowband Ultraviolet B Phototherapy in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Exp Dermatol . 2022 May 31. doi: 10.1111/exd.14617
Frank H Lau 1, Catherine E Powell 1, Giacomo Adonecchi 2, Denise M Danos 3, Andrew R DiNardo 4, Robert J Chugden 5, Peter Wolf 6, Carmen F Castilla 7

Background: COVID-19 morbidity and mortality are driven by poor immune regulation. Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is standard of care in a number of immune-dysregulated diseases. To assess the efficacy of NB-UVB phototherapy for improving COVID-19 outcomes in high-risk, hospitalized, we developed the Adaptive Photo-Protection Trial. This is a multi-center, prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The pilot phase results are reported here.

Experimental design: Consecutive patients admitted with a positive COVID-19 PCR were screened for eligibility. Enrolled subjects were computer randomized 1:1 to NB-UVB or placebo phototherapy. Subjects were treated daily with escalating doses on 27% of their body surface area for up to 8 consecutive days. Primary outcomes were safety and efficacy, defined as persistent or painful erythema and 28-day mortality. Comparisons were made via non-parametric exact tests.

Results: Patients in treatment (n=15) and placebo (n=15) arms had similar demographics. No adverse events occurred. 28-day mortality was 13.3% in treatment vs. 33.3% in placebo arms (p=0.39).

Conclusions: NB-UVB phototherapy in hospitalized COVID-19 patients was safe. Decreased mortality was observed in treated patients but this was statistically non-significant. Given its low-cost, scalability, and adjunctive nature, NB-UVB has the potential to improve COVID-19 outcomes. Continuation of this trial is warranted.
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Possible reason: Vitamin D generated in skin ==> fortified immune system

UVB might have generated 10,000 IU daily
21 fewer days in hospital with ARDS (COVID) if 10,000 IU of Vitamin D daily after enter hospital – RCT April, 2022
UV and COVID: Prevention and perhaps treatment
UVB phototherapy (which increases Vitamin D and VDR) decreased risk of many heart and stroke problems – July 2020

Possible reason: Virus killed by UVB ==> stop re-infection

Ultraviolet light kills cold and flu viruses, and generates Vitamin D in the skin

Unlikely to be due to Nitric Oxide - as NO is generated by UVA, not UVB

See: Nitric oxide (from Sun, UVA, Vitamin D) reduces cardiovascular problems

VitaminDWiki - 16 studies in both categories Virus and UV

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VitaminDWiki – COVID-19 treated by Vitamin D - studies, reports, videos

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