Hereditary palmoplantar keratodermas in South India

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Medical Genetics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Inherited palmoplantar keratodermas (PPKs) are a group of genetic skin disorders affecting the palms and soles.
• Limited epidemiological data exists for PPKs in South India.
• Understanding the prevalence and patterns of PPKs is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and incidence of inherited palmoplantar keratodermas (PPKs) in South India.
• To describe the demographic patterns and subtypes of PPKs in the studied population.
• To provide the first comprehensive report on hereditary PPKs in this region.

Main Methods:

• Screening of 59,490 outpatient cases at JIPMER, Pondicherry.
• Identification and classification of patients diagnosed with inherited palmoplantar keratodermas (PPKs).
• Calculation of prevalence rates and analysis of demographic data (age, sex) and PPK subtypes.

Main Results:

• A prevalence of 5.2 per 10,000 population (approximately 1:2000) was observed for inherited PPKs.
• PPKs were more common in males (4.2:1 ratio) and highest in the 0-10 years age group (67.7%).
• Unna-Thost syndrome (38.7%) was the most frequent subtype, followed by Greither's disease (22.9%).

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first epidemiological data on inherited palmoplantar keratodermas (PPKs) in South India.
• The findings highlight a significant prevalence of PPKs, particularly Unna-Thost syndrome, in males and young children.
• This research establishes a baseline for future studies and clinical management of PPKs in the region.