From: Billi Goldberg <bigoldberg@igc.apc.org>
Subject: UVR Activism
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 6228
Organization: unspecified
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 92 08:38:37 PDT

The following two letters were sent to the Medical Board of California 
last week. Copies went to the University of California San Francisco, 
attention: Senior Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs, Dean of the School 
of Medicine, and Chair of Dermatology, Project Inform, and AIDS 
Treatment News.

I received a call from the Head of Dermatology at SFGH AIDS Services 
wanting to discuss the issue. He thanked me for calling this to the 
attention of UCSF and stated that they are acting on this problem and 
will issue guidelines on ultraviolet light (sunlight, tanning salons, 
etc.) and the problems involved with PUVA treatment. He stated that they 
were aware of this problem, but ....He also agreed that AZT is an 
immunosuppressant.

My concern is why didn't they act on their own initiative. That 
"oversight" is very bothersome to me. 

The enclosures referred to in the letters have been posted.
***********************************************************************
September 21, 1992

Medical Board of California
1430 Howe Ave., #54
Sacramento, CA  95825

Dear Sir,

It has come to my attention that Dr. Marcus A. Conant, a dermatologist, 
who has a practice in San Francisco, is using a treatment for psoriasis 
that is extremely dangerous to HIV infected individuals. This treatment 
is known as PUVA or psoralen used with ultraviolet radiation A (315 to 
400 nanometers wave length). Along with this treatment, Dr. Conant is 
recommending that his patients with this problem expose themselves to 
sunlight to help clear up dermatitis.

As can seen by the enclosed article in Science 8/28/92, titled "Awaken- 
ing...UV Light and HIV Gene Activation," utilization of any form of UV 
radiation is extremely dangerous. Not only does it increase HIV repli- 
cation but causes immunosuppression. This is not new information, in a 
5/5/88 article in Nature titled "Activation of human immunodeficiency 
virus type 1 by DNA damage in human cells," these effects of UV were 
explained in great detail.

The irony of this situation is that Dr. Conant published an article in 
the 7/91 issue of Dermatologic Clinics titled "Future Issues in AIDS." 
In the same issue Dr. Madeleine Duvic on pages 525-526 stated the 
following: "Phototherapy has been used in HIV patients with ARC or early 
infection, but more careful studies with serial T4 counts and p24 
antigen are needed before it can be safely recommended. In vitro studies 
show that ultraviolet light activates HIV expression, and we have seen 
patients develop Kaposi's sarcoma while receiving ultraviolet 
irradiation."

Individuals who are HIV+ have enough problems without receiving 
treatments that are contraindicated by studies in prestigious scientific 
journals. It is hoped that you will look into this matter. It is 
critical that AIDS clinicians are aware of treatment advances and 
problems that are taking place on a continuing basis.

Sincerely,

Billi Goldberg
AIDS Activist

***********************************************************************
September 24, 1992

Medical Board of California
1430 Howe Ave., #54
Sacramento, CA  95825

Dear Sir,

Please consider this letter as an addendum to my complaint submitted 
to the Medical Board of California on September 21, 1992.

The information in the enclosure has just come to my attention along 
with the information that Marcus A. Conant, M.D., is a Clinical 
Professor of Dermatology at the University of California at San 
Francisco.

I have a great concern that PUVA treatment for HIV-related psoriasis is 
widespread in California.

I apologize for not submitting this information with my original 
complaint.

Sincerely,

Billi Goldberg
AIDS Activist

Enclosure

Newsgroups: sci.med.aids