Palmoplantar psoriasis: a comparative therapeutic study

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Psoriasis is an immunologically mediated inflammatory dermatosis presenting with extremely variable clinical manifestations ranging from indolent lesions to life threatening forms of pustular and erythrodermic psoriasis. Palmoplantar psoriasis present as hyperkeratotic scaly plaques with fissures and can be managed with different treatment forms. This study was done to compare the efficacy between topical and systemic treatment options.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was conducted in a tertiary level teaching hospital after ethical committee clearance. Fifty patients with palmoplantar psoriasis were allocated into the two groups using simple random sampling. PPPASI scoring was calculated to assess the extent of involvement. Patients in Group A were prescribed calcipotriol with clobetasol propionate ointment. Group B patients were given tablet methotrexate.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Twenty eight patients were males M: F of 1.27: 1. Mean age was 36. Mean duration of illness was eleven months. Most of these patients were manual laborers. 32 patients had lesions over both palms and soles, 9 over palms alone and 9 involving soles alone. Mean PASI reduction at 16 weeks was seen maximum with methotrexate. Compliance was comparatively good with methotrexate than topical. Though mean PASI reduction and compliance was good, relapse rates were higher with methotrexate in our study.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> There was no significant change in clinico-epidemiology and presentation of palmoplantar psoriasis. Methotrexate was observed to be the more efficacious modality in treating palmoplantar psoriasis.</p>