What looked like eczema was a rare disease: Early diagnosis crucial for palmoplantar pustulosis
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), a chronic autoimmune skin disease, causes severe pustules and inflammation on hands and feet, significantly impacting quality of life.
- The condition is often misdiagnosed as eczema and can take years to diagnose, with patients experiencing significant limitations in daily activities and social interactions.
- Designated as a rare disease in South Korea, PPP now benefits from improved treatment options, including biologics, but raising public awareness remains crucial.
Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), a chronic autoimmune disease causing recurrent pustules and inflammation on the hands and feet, is highlighted as a severe condition significantly affecting patients' quality of life. Experts emphasize the critical need for early and accurate diagnosis, as symptoms can be easily mistaken for more common skin ailments like eczema or dyshidrosis.
Palmoplantar pustulosis is arguably the most severe disease that can occur on the hands and feet.
Patients often face a long diagnostic journey, with an average delay of 2.8 years in Austria and 3-5 years in South Korea before receiving a correct diagnosis at specialized centers. The condition's impact extends beyond physical discomfort; it severely restricts daily activities such as walking and grasping objects. Furthermore, the visible nature of the lesions can lead to social stigma, with patients being mistaken for having contagious diseases, causing them to withdraw from social interactions.
It is not a simple skin trouble but a chronic disease with immune abnormalities that greatly affects quality of life, so receiving an accurate diagnosis and treatment early is most important.
Studies reveal the profound effect PPP has on patients' lives, with one South Korean study showing a nearly 38% decrease in work productivity and a 46% reduction in social activities. A Swedish study indicated that over half of PPP patients experience difficulties with walking and nearly half suffer from anxiety and depression.
In PPP, pustules form due to an overactive immune response, not bacterial or fungal infection.
Fortunately, PPP was designated a rare disease in South Korea in January of the previous year, easing the treatment burden for patients. The advent of biologic treatments has also led to significant improvements in therapeutic effectiveness. However, challenges persist due to low public awareness and the presence of undiagnosed cases. Dermatologists stress that PPP is not a mere skin blemish but a chronic inflammatory condition driven by immune system abnormalities that profoundly impacts daily living, underscoring the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment.
The disease is known to be caused by immune cells called 'Th17 cells' and the inflammatory cytokines they secrete, such as 'IL-17, -23, -36.'
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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