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. Molecular ‐ biological 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. Key words: arsenical keratosis; Indian ethnic remedy; human papillomavirus.