ABSTRACT
First rnany years there has been a great dea,l of disagreement about the classification and histology of recalcitrant pustular eruptions of the palms and soles and the rela.tion of this condition to psoriasis. It ia the purpose of this investigation to describe histological changes in fresh pustules from patients witb pustular eruptions of the palms and soles and compare these changes between patients with clinically preceding or co-existing psoriasis (4cases) and without clinically preceding or co-existing psoriasis (7cases). Nine biopsies of pustules were exarnined and the results were compared between two groups. Histopathological findings were otherwise uniform and typical intradermal well-delineated pustules. No significant differences were found bet.ween th two groups. In view of the uniforrn histology, the unknown etiology, and uncertain clinicaI classification, the authors prefer the clearly descreptive term pustulosis palrnaris et plantaris(PPP). Recent;ly the phagocytic ability of neutrophilic leukocytes was reported to be impaired in patients suffering from pustular eruptions of the palms and soles. In our study this ability was performed with the aid of the NBT. dye reduction test before and after administration of Descresept (aristolochic acid). The aim of the present study was to observe the effect of Descresept on NBT test in relation to the clinical acitivity of PPP. The results were as follows: l. In 6 of 11 patients, clinical improvement was accompanied with increasing NBT' scores. 2. In 2 of 11 patients, clinical aggravation was noted in spite of Descresept adrninistration. In these 2 cases, increase in dosage of Descresept made clinical improvement again with increasing NBT scores. 3. In 3 of the 11 patients, there was noted clinical improvement, but NBT scores were slightly decreased.