Association between Palmoplantar Pustulosis and Cigarette Smoking in Korean.
- Author:
Hyun Ho SON
1
;
Young Seok LEE
;
Sook Kyung LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Maryknoll Medical Center, Busan, Korea. sea7th@naver.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Korean;
Palmoplantar pustulosis;
Smoking
- MeSH:
Autoimmune Diseases;
Female;
Humans;
Prevalence;
Skin Diseases;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Thyroid Diseases;
Thyroid Gland;
Tobacco;
Tobacco Products
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2012;50(11):945-950
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), a skin disease, is characterized by chronically recurring sterile pustules on the palms and the soles. Although the etiology of PPP is unknown, it is interesting to note high prevalence of tobacco use in these patients. It would seem that there may be a relationship between PPP, autoimmune disease and alterations of thyroid function. However, this fact was never verified among Korean. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore smoking as a risk or exacerbation factor for PPP in Korean patients with PPP, and confirm the relationship between PPP and other factors, including thyroid disease. METHODS: We studied a total of 109 patients (M:F=38:71) with ages ranging from 20 to 70 years, diagnosed with PPP. A control group was matched according to gender and age: 109 patients with other dermatologic problem. Patients were interviewed about tobacco use, and thyroid disease, and autoimmune diseases. The data were analyzed to determine whether there was any association between PPP and various factors. RESULTS: The proportion of PPP patients using tobacco was much higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). Smoking was more strongly associated with PPP among women. Although there was no association between the quantity of cigarettes smoked daily and the severity of PPP, there was a dose-dependent correlation between the pack*year and the severity of PPP (p<0.05). Furthermore, 14 patients had been diagnosed with thyroid disease. In addition, all of them were smokers. CONCLUSION: There was significant association between PPP and smoking. However, the impact of giving it up in the clinical course of the disease remains to be established. In addition, it would seem that there may be a relationship between PPP and alteration of thyroid function.
