PUVA therapy for palmoplantar pustulosis

Abstract

Forty patients suffering from pustulosis palmoplantaris were treated with PUVA therapy. Thirty-six patients had palmar lesions which cleared in 31 cases; in 18 cases after an initial course of 3 sessions of treatment per week during an average period of 10 weeks, and in another 13 only after additional, less frequent continuation of the PUVA therapy. The average total UVA dose at clearing of the palmar lesions was 191 and the final UVA dose 7.3 J/cm2. After 2 years, 9 out of the 31 cases of palmar lesions were still completely healed, and the average duration of remission was greater than or equal to 15 months. For plantar lesions the results of PUVA therapy, using essentially the same procedure, were less satisfactory: healing being obtained in only 5 out of 34 cases. However, for palmar and plantar lesions alike, most patients have reported long-standing improvement from PUVA therapy. A surprisingly high frequency of nausea was noted as a side-effect.