Successful Treatment of Palmoplantar Pustulosis With Apremilast

November 2021 | Volume 20 | Issue 11 | Editorials | 1255 | Copyright © November 2021


Published online October 11, 2021

Noelle Dorgham MS-III, David Crasto DO, Stanley Skopit DO

Larkin Community Hospital Department of Dermatology, South Miami, FL




mild and resolve upon discontinuation.9 The low risk of internal toxicity and favorable side effect profile makes apremilast a safer and more viable option for systemic treatment of PPP compared to alternative systemic agents.

Previous reports have demonstrated similar efficacy of apremilast in the treatment of PPP (Table 1). In a single case study, a 75-year-old woman with an 8-year history of PPP reported symptomatic resolution within 4 weeks of therapy.10 A similar study showing successful treatment with apremilast was also reported in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who developed PPP after rituximab therapy.11 Additionally, apremilast also proved efficacious in PPP associated with SAPHO syndrome.7 Mikhailitcheneko et al. reported efficacy of apremilast in the treatment of PPP in a case series of 8 patients.12 An additional case study recently provided further support for the use of apremilast in PPP.13 Our case, along with previous reports, provides further evidence supporting the need for clinical trials in order to implement apremilast as an option for systemic therapy in patients with refractory PPP.

DISCLOSURES

The authors have reported no conflicts.

REFERENCES

1. Freitas E, Rodrigues MA, Torres T. Diagnosis, screening and treatment of patients with palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP): a review of current practices and recommendations. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:561-578.
2. Bissonnette R, Pariser DM, Wasel NR, et al. Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, in the treatment of palmoplantar psoriasis: Results of a pooled analysis from phase II PSOR-005 and phase III Efficacy and Safety Trial Evaluating the Effects of Apremilast in Psoriasis (ESTEEM) clinical trials in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;75(1):99-105.
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7. Murakami M. Guselkumab for the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2020;20(8):841-852.
8. Shah S, Nikam B, Kale M, Jamale V, Chavan D. Safety and efficacy profile of oral cyclosporine versus oral methotrexate versus oral acitretin in palmoplantar psoriasis - A hospital based prospective investigator blind randomized controlled comparative study [published online ahead of print, 2020 Dec 9]. Dermatol Ther. 2020;e14650. doi:10.1111/dth.14650
9. Haebich G, Kalavala M. Successful treatment of refractory palmoplantar pustulosis with apremilast. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2017;42(4):471-473.
10. Haller C, Cozzio A, von Kempis J, Rubbert-Roth A. Successful treatment of rituximab-associated palmoplantar pustulosis with apremilast in a patient with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 22]. J Clin Rheumatol. 2020;10.1097
11. Adamo S, Nilsson J, Krebs A, et al. Successful treatment of SAPHO syndrome with apremilast. Br J Dermatol. 2018;179(4):959-962.
12. Mikhailitchenko, Amy L., et al. Eight-patient case series of palmoplantar pustulosis treated successfully with apremilast. J Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis. 2019 Jun. 4(1);7–10.
13. Carrascosa de Lome R, Conde Montero E, de la Cueva Dobao P. Refractory palmoplantar pustulosis.

AUTHOR CORRESPONDENCE

David Crasto DO davecrastodo@gmail.com