Characteristics of Patients with Generalized Pustular Psoriasis: A Report of the Polish Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Group

Marta Kołt-Kamińska; Luiza Marek-Józefowicz; Piotr Krajewski; Julia Nowowiejska; Aleksandra Siekierko; Ewa Duchnik; Katarzyna Jóźwicka; Magdalena Kiedrowicz; Mateusz Mleczko; Hubert Arasiewicz; Monika Kucharczyk; Witold Owczarek; Irena Walecka; Jacek C Szepietowski; Iwona Flisiak; Aleksandra Lesiak; Joanna Narbutt; Mariola Marchlewicz; Agnieszka Owczarczyk-Saczonek; Dorota Krasowska; Beata Kręcisz; Adam Reich

doi:10.1007/s13555-024-01306-w

Characteristics of Patients with Generalized Pustular Psoriasis: A Report of the Polish Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Group

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2024 Nov 21. doi: 10.1007/s13555-024-01306-w. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Marta Kołt-Kamińska¹, Luiza Marek-Józefowicz², Piotr Krajewski³, Julia Nowowiejska⁴, Aleksandra Siekierko⁵, Ewa Duchnik⁶, Katarzyna Jóźwicka⁷, Magdalena Kiedrowicz⁶, Mateusz Mleczko⁸, Hubert Arasiewicz⁹, Monika Kucharczyk¹⁰, Witold Owczarek¹¹, Irena Walecka¹², Jacek C Szepietowski³, Iwona Flisiak⁴, Aleksandra Lesiak^{5

13}, Joanna Narbutt⁵, Mariola Marchlewicz⁶, Agnieszka Owczarczyk-Saczonek⁷, Dorota Krasowska⁸, Beata Kręcisz¹⁰, Adam Reich¹⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of the University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland.
² Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Faculty of Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Ludwik Rydygier, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
³ Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
⁴ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
⁵ Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland.
⁶ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Pomeranian Medical University, Police, Poland.
⁷ Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
⁸ Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Pediatric Dermatology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
⁹ Department of Dermatology and Vascular Anomalies, John Paul II Centre of Paediatrics, Sosnowiec, Poland.
¹⁰ Department of Dermatology, Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, Kielce, Poland.
¹¹ Department of Dermatology, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.
¹² Department of Dermatology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland.
¹³ Laboratory of Autoinflammatory, Genetic and Rare Skin Disorders, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
¹⁴ Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of the University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland. adamandrzejreich@gmail.com.

PMID: 39572507
DOI: 10.1007/s13555-024-01306-w

Abstract

Introduction: Data on generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) in Poland are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of Polish patients with GPP. In addition, the effect of the frequency of disease flares and the concomitant presence of psoriasis vulgaris (PV) on patient characteristics was evaluated.

Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of patients hospitalized for GPP in dermatology departments of the Polish Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Group were analyzed.

Results: A total of 90 patients from 14 dermatology centers were included. The median age of patients was 59 (range, 5-85) years, and most patients were female (68.9%). The most common comorbidity was hypertension (43.3%), followed by cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. The median duration of GPP was 3 years, and the median number of flares was 2. Hospitalization was required in 67% of flares. The main triggering factors were drugs (20.5%) and infections (19.3%). Women and men with GPP differed in terms of age (p < 0.01), distribution of comorbidities, and selected triggering factors (stress: p < 0.05). Almost 25% of patients experienced more than one flare per year. Patients with different frequency of flares did not differ significantly in age, sex distribution, or comorbidities, but those with a higher frequency of flares had a shorter disease duration (median: 0.6 vs. 4.0 years; p < 0.01). In 59.1% of patients, GPP was accompanied by PV. Patients with GPP and PV were younger than those with GPP alone (median: 48.0 vs. 66.0 years; p < 0.01).

Conclusions: In this study, the general demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with GPP were consistent with those described in other studies. However, a high rate of flares requiring hospitalization and a significant percentage of patients experiencing more than one flare per year indicate the unmet need in the management of patients with GPP.

Keywords: Flares; Generalized pustular psoriasis; Psoriasis vulgaris; Treatment.