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REVIEW

Palmoplantar Pustulosis: A Systematic Review of Risk Factors and Therapies

, ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, &
Pages 33-58 | Received 20 Jul 2023, Accepted 16 Sep 2023, Published online: 22 Sep 2023
 

Abstract

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disease that can occur alone or in association with arthritis. There is still controversy about whether it should be separated from psoriasis or classified as pustular psoriasis. Furthermore, drug-induced paradoxical PPP is a special variant of PPP that differs from classic PPP in several ways. Treatment of PPP is still challenging, and there are a number of treatment-resistant cases. This review summarizes the risk factors for the development of PPP and the currently available treatment modalities. Female sex, smokers or ex-smokers, obesity, thyroid dysfunction, and treatment with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitor have been identified as risk factors for the disease’s development, severity, and course. Topical treatments and phototherapy are effective for some patients and are used as a first-line or adjuvant treatment modality. Conventional treatments including retinoids and fumaric acid show good effects and can increase the efficacy of treatment with psoralen + ultraviolet light therapy (PUVA). Ciclosporin is fast acting, but relapse mostly occurs immediately after cessation. TNF-α inhibitors are efficient, and an even better response can be achieved with IL-17 and IL-23 blockers as well as apremilast. The effect of Janus kinase inhibitors seems to be promising according to case reports, but further investigations with larger cohorts are needed.

Disclosure

Dr Kristine Heidemeyer reports personal fees from Sanofi, Amgen, Almirall, UCB, and Abbvie, outside the submitted work. Prof. Dr. Nikhil Yawalkar reports personal fees from Abbvie, Almirall, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, MSD, Janssen, Leo, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, outside the submitted work. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding to report.