Papular palmoplantar hyperkeratosis following chronic medical exposure to arsenic: human papillomavirus as a co-factor in the pathogenesis of arsenical keratosis?
This study presents the case of a 38-year-old patient from Pakistan with vitiligo, who developed multiple verrucous papules on the palms and soles several years after receiving "herbal treatment" from a travelling Indian doctor for a period of 12 months. Histopathological examination showed changes consistent with the diagnosis of arsenical keratosis. Molecularbiological examination of a skin biopsy detected an atypical human papillomavirus. This observation supports the concept of human papillomavirus as a co-factor in the pathogenesis of premalignant arsenic-induced skin tumours.
Gerdsen
R
R
Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Germany.
Stockfleth
E
E
Uerlich
M
M
Fartasch
M
M
Steen
K H
KH
Bieber
T
T
D000328:Adult; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007645:Keratoderma, Palmoplantar / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy