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Plaque psoriasis in patients with palmoplantar pustulosis
Author(s) -
Andersen Y.M.F.,
Augustin M.,
Petersen J.,
Hagenström K.,
Mallbris L.,
Burge R.,
Egeberg A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.18497
Subject(s) - psoriasis , palmoplantar pustulosis , plaque psoriasis , medicine , dermatology , acitretin , danish , methotrexate , pustulosis , arthritis , philosophy , synovitis , linguistics
Summary This study from the USA, Denmark and Germany looked at how often plaque psoriasis and palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) occur together. Plaque psoriasis is the commonest form of psoriasis. PPP is a condition where pus‐filled spots are seen on the palms and soles, often on skin that is red and scaly like psoriasis. It is not known how PPP is related to psoriasis, if at all. From insurance records in the USA and Germany, and from the Danish National Patient Register, the researchers found approximately 4000 patients diagnosed with PPP. Many of their findings varied strikingly from country to country, as noted in the commentary for this study. For instance, the prevalence of PPP ranged from 0.005% in Denmark to 0.08% in Germany. The presence of plaque psoriasis in PPP patients varied from 14.2% in the Danish patients to 36.4% in Germany and 61.3% in the USA. As regards treatment, patients with PPP and plaque psoriasis together were more likely to have been prescribed strong steroid creams, ointments or gels, especially in the USA and Denmark. More patients with both conditions together were treated with acitretin, methotrexate and biologics in the USA and Denmark, and the differences for treatment with biologics ranged widely: 18.4% of USA patients compared with 8.5% in Denmark and 2.5% in Germany. In comparison with patients with PPP alone, patients who had PPP and plaque psoriasis together were more likely to have joint disease related to psoriasis, and this was roughly the same in all three countries.