Background: Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting mainly smoking women. Some patients also have psoriasis. A subgroup of patients with psoriasis has been shown to have silent gluten sensitivity with relevance for their psoriasis. Nothing is known about gluten sensitivity in PPP.

Objectives: To find out whether any patients with PPP are gluten-sensitive and whether this might be relevant for the PPP activity.

Patients and methods: One hundred and twenty-three patients (113 women) with PPP participated. Screening for IgA antibodies against gliadin and tissue transglutaminase (tTG) was performed, the duodenal mucosa in patients with and without these antibodies was studied and the effect of a gluten-free diet (GFD) was followed up.

Results: Twenty-two patients (18%) had IgA antibodies against gliadin and nine of 94 (10%) against tTG. Twelve patients with antibodies and 11 without underwent gastro-duodenoscopy. Four displayed villous atrophy, whereas all other specimens were judged as essentially normal at routine staining. However, with immunohistochemistry, the numbers of CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in the epithelium were found to be increased in patients with any type of antibody, although they were most numerous in those with both types of antibodies. Seven of 123 patients (6%) had coeliac disease (three previously diagnosed). Patients with antibodies who adhered to the GFD displayed total or nearly total clearance of the skin lesions and normalization of the antibody levels.

Conclusions: Patients with PPP should be screened for antibodies against gliadin and tTG. Those with antibodies can be much improved on a GFD regardless of the degree of mucosal abnormalities.