Polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis in generalized pustular psoriasis.

We studied polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) chemotaxis in 3 patients with generalized pustular psoriasis using 3 chemoattractants: Zymosan-activated serum from both the patients and normal individuals, and n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). These attractants were assayed against both patient-derived and normal PMNLs. All patients had quiescent skin disease at the time of assay. We found that all patients had decreased PMNL chemotaxis to autologous Zymosan-activated serum, but not to FMLP. PMNLs from normal individuals responded normally to serum from the patients. We conclude that patients with generalized pustular psoriasis, when free of symptoms, may have an isolated PMNL chemotactic defect that is restricted to serum-derived attractants.