Generalized Pustular Psoriasis

With Generalized Pustular Psoriasis (GPP), also known as von Zumbusch psoriasis, pustules often cover large areas of the body and typically presents with fever, shivers, intense itching, a rapid pulse, fatigue, headache, nausea, muscle weakness, and joint pain.

People with GPP tend to have sudden flares that last for a few weeks, followed by spontaneous remission where their skin partly or completely clears up.

About GPP

Severity

Flares can also cause life-threatening complications, such as a sudden drop in blood pressure. If you think you have generalized pustular psoriasis, contact a health care provider immediately.

Causes

The most frequent causes for GPP are infections, stress, corticosteroid treatment withdrawal, and pregnancy. GPP flares during pregnancy are called pustular psoriasis of pregnancy, previously known as impetigo herpetiformis, and usually occur in the third trimester.

Age

While GPP usually affects adults, children can develop it, often due to genetic changes, or mutations. The most common mutations linked to GPP occur in the IL36RN gene, which leads to unregulated inflammatory cytokine production, causing inflammation in the skin.

Correlations

About half (54.4%) of people with GPP also have plaque psoriasis. Women are slightly more likely to develop GPP than men. [1]

Pustular Psoriasis Resource Center

NPF is here to help with resources, advice and stories specifically for you to help live the healthy and happy life that you want.

Go to the Pustular Resource Center

[1] Twelves S, Mostafa A, Dand N,et al. Clinical and genetic differences between pustular psoriasis subtypes. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Mar 2019; 143(3): 1021-1026. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2018.06.038.