Efficacy of local bath PUVA in the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis

Palmoplantar pustulosis is a chronic dermatosis of palms and soles, which is associated with a high recurrence rate and resistance to treatment. Various treatments with different success rates have been used.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of local bath PUVA in the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis.

In this retrospective study, patients with palmoplantar pustulosis who were treated with local bath PUVA in Phototherapy clinic of Razi Hospital between 2005 and 2009 were evaluated for the therapeutic efficacy of local bath PUVA. Data were analyzed using t and chi-square tests.

Ninety-five patients with a mean age of 44.17 years included in this study. 49.5% of patients were males and 50.5% were females. Mean treatment cessions of patients were 42.5 sessions and mean cumulative dose was 251.8 J/cm2. In 16.8% of cases have very good response was observed. Good, moderate and poor responses were observed in 35.8%, 29.5% and 9.5% of cases, respectively. Treatment failure was observed in 8.4% of patients. Mean cumulative dose in patients with very good response was significantly higher than other response groups, (P=0.016). Mean number of treatment sessions was also significantly higher in that group with comparison with other groups, (P<0.05). Twenty percent of patients withdrawed from the study because of complications. However all complications recovered completely and no long term complications was observed.

This study demonstrated that local bath PUVA is an effective safe treatment for the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis.