Pack-year cigarette smoking affects the course of palmoplantar pustulosis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic inflammatory disease with poorly understood pathogenesis. The disease has a chronic course with improvements and exacerbations. Due to palmoplantar location, PPP has a severely negative impact on patients' quality of life. OBJECTIVES: To identify demographic and environmental factors, concomitant diseases, medications, and bacterial factors which may affect the course of PPP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 51 patients suffering from PPP took part in the study. They were classified according to the Palmoplantar Pustulosis Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (ppPASI) into 3 groups due to the severity of the disease. Pack-year of smoking score was established as a quotient of packets smoked every 24 h and the years of being addicted. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the IDF criteria from 2009. Chlamydia trachomatis was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, Staphylococcus aureus by the culture swabs. Contact hypersensitivity was examined with the T.R.U.E. test. RESULTS: Significantly high severity of PPP was observed in patients addicted to smoking with a high pack-year score (p = 0.03). Significantly lower intensity of PPP lesions was observed in patients treated with ibuprofen (p < 0.01). There was no correlation between severity of PPP skin lesions and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Addiction to cigarette smoking and a high pack-year score aggravates the course of PPP. Treatment with ibuprofen can improve the course of the disease.