Soluble E-selectin as a marker of disease activity in pustulosis palmaris et plantaris

In this study, we investigated a possible correlation between adhesion molecules and activity of pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP). Serum levels of soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), soluble intercellular adhesion molecules 1 (sICAM-1) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in 30 untreated PPP patients were examined, and compared with those in 20 healthy subjects. Values in 10 PPP patients were re-examined after treatment. Serum levels of sE-selectin and TNF-alpha in untreated PPP patients were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects. There was a statistically significant correlation between the disease activity and serum levels of sE-selectin in untreated PPP patients. Furthermore, disease activity of PPP was higher in patients who smoked and during the summer, with elevation of serum sE-selectin levels. Serum levels of sE-selectin were downregulated with the recovery from PPP. These results suggest that sE-selectin may play a role in the pathogenesis of PPP and could be a reliable marker of its disease activity.