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Differential histopathological and immunohistochemical findings between palmar psoriasis and chronic hand eczema

  • Clinical report
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

The differential diagnosis between palmar psoriasis (PP), chronic hand dermatitis (CHE), and hyperkeratotic hand dermatitis (HHD) is challenging.

Objectives

We sought to distinguish the histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics between PP, CHD, and HHD.

Materials & Methods

Hands, clinically diagnosed with PP, CHD, or HHD, were further evaluated using skin biopsy sections based on haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical analysis for β-defensin 2 and interleukin-36γ.

Results

Confluent parakeratosis, absent granular layer, and psoriasiform epidermal hyperplasia were more common in PP and HHD relative to CHE. The level of β-defensin 2 expression in the stratum corneum and interleukin-36γ in the stratum granulosum was higher in PP and HHD relative to CHD.

Conclusion

Considering the similarities of histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, HHD may be an inflammatory disorder with a pathogenesis similar to that of PP, rather than CHD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Republic of Korea

    Min Kyun An, Ji Ha Yoon, Eun Joo Park, Kwang Joong Kim & Kwang Ho Kim

  2. Department of Pathology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Republic of Korea

    Hye Rim Park

Authors
  1. Min Kyun An
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  2. Ji Ha Yoon
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  3. Eun Joo Park
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  4. Hye Rim Park
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  5. Kwang Joong Kim
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  6. Kwang Ho Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kwang Ho Kim.

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Disclosures

Funding sources: this research was supported by Hallym University Research Fund (HURF-2018-02). Conflicts of interest: none.

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An, M.K., Yoon, J.H., Park, E.J. et al. Differential histopathological and immunohistochemical findings between palmar psoriasis and chronic hand eczema. Eur J Dermatol 30, 710–715 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2020.3769

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