Diagnosis and screening of patients with generalized pustular psoriasis

• Published in: Psoriasis (Auckland, New Zealand) Vol. 9; pp. 37 - 42
• Main Authors: Ly, Karen, Beck, Kristen M, Smith, Mary P, Thibodeaux, Quinn, Bhutani, Tina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01-06-2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Chicken pox; Cytokines; Cytomegalovirus; Diagnosis; diagnostic criteria; Electrolytes; generalized pustular psoriasis; Health aspects; Heart failure; Laboratories; Medical diagnosis; Morbidity; Mortality; Mutation; Psoriasis; pustular psoriasis; Respiratory distress syndrome; Review; Rheumatoid arthritis; Sepsis; Skin; Stem cells; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Ustekinumab; von Zumbusch; diagnostic criteria; generalized pustular psoriasis; acute generalized pustular psoriasis of von Zumbusch; pustular psoriasis
• ISSN: 2230-326X; 2230-326X
• DOI: 10.2147/PTT.S181808

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and potentially life-threatening variant of psoriasis that is characterized by recurrent, acute onset, widely distributed pustular eruptions on inflamed, erythematous skin. It is important to recognize acute GPP as a subtype of psoriasis associated with high morbidity and mortality so therapy can be initiated without delay. Since GPP was first described in 1910 by Leopold von Zumbusch, it has been inconsistently defined, stratified, and diagnosed in the literature. Multiple definitions and diagnostic criteria have been proposed over the years. Recently, formal consensus guidelines on GPP have been published by international groups. This article reviews the current evidence and understanding in the diagnosis and screening of GPP.