Osteoarthritis in 84 Japanese patients with palmoplantar pustulosis.

BACKGROUND

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is often associated with osteoarthritis. The relation between osteoarthritis in PPP and other types of seronegative arthritis remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution and the frequency of osteoarthritis in patients with PPP and to compare HLA antigen frequencies in osteoarthritis in PPP, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

METHODS

Clinical findings were identified and HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DR were determined in 84 Japanese patients with PPP. Bone scintigraphic studies were conducted for forty-one patients.

RESULTS

In addition to the anterior aspect of the chest wall, the knee, spine, and ankle were frequently involved. HLA-DR9 frequency was the highest in patients with PPP who had osteoarthritis.

CONCLUSION

Involvement of the knees, spine, ankles, and the anterior aspect of the chest wall was noted in patients with osteoarthritis and PPP. Osteoarthritis in PPP seems to be a distinct entity from a genetic point of view.