PACHYDERMOPERIOSTOSIS

Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is a rare genetic disorder that affects both bones and skin. Other names are primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy or Touraine-Solente-Golé syndrome. It is mainly characterized by pachyderma (thickening of the skin), periostosis (excessive bone formation) and finger clubbing (swelling of tissue with loss of normal angle between nail and nail bed).

This disease affects more men than women. After onset, the disease stabilizes after about 5–20 years. Life of PDP patients can be severely impaired. Currently, symptomatic treatments are NSAIDs and steroids or surgical procedures.

SYMPTOMS

PDP has a number of visible signs. Most important clinical features are: pachydermia (thickening and wrinkling of the skin), furrowing of the face and scalp, periostosis (swelling of periarticular tissue and shaggy periosteal new bone formation of long bones) and digital clubbing (enlargement of fingertips). Other features include excessive sweating, arthralgia and gastrointestinal abnormalities.

SKIN FEATURES

ü  Pachydermia

ü  Oily skin

ü  Coarse skin

ü  Eczema

ü  Thick hand and foot skin

ü  Leonine facies

ü  Furrowing

ü  Cutis verticis gyrate

ü  Increased secretion of sebum

ü  Sebborheic hyperplasia

ü  Keloid formation

BONE FEATURES

ü  Periostosis

ü  Acroosteolysis

ü  Myelofibrosis

ü  Thick toe and finger bones

ü  Widening of bone formation

Clubbing: digital clubbing

Sweating: hyperhidrosis

Eye features

ü  drooping eyelids

ü  Thick stratum corneum

Joints

ü  Arthralgia

ü  Joint effusion

Muscles: muscles discomfort

Hair: decreased facial and pubic hair

Vascular: peripheral vascular stasis

Gastrointestinal involvement

ü  Peptic ulcer

ü  Chronic gastritis

ü  Crohn’s disease

HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When  is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms

Few homoeopathic medicine can be thought of in the treatment of Pachydermoperiostosis  are:

silicea, calcarea carb, lycopodium, arsenic alb., etc.