Cicatricial pemphigoid
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Cicatricial pemphigoid is a rare chronic autoimmune subepithelial blistering disease characterized by erosive lesions of the mucous membranes and skin that can result in scarring.[1]:581 It is one of the pemphigoid diseases.
Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]
The autoimmune reaction most commonly affects the mouth, causing lesions in the gingiva or gums, known as desquamative gingivitis but it can also affect areas of mucous membrane elsewhere in the body, such as the sinuses, genitals, anus, and cornea. When the cornea of the eye is affected, repeated scarring may result in blindness.
Brunsting–Perry cicatricial pemphigoid is a rare variant of cicatricial pemphigoid involving the scalp and the neck without mucosal involvement.[2] [3]
Nikolsky's sign (gentle lateral pressure) on unaffected mucosa or skin raises a bulla. If no lesions are present on examination it may be useful way of demonstrating reduced epithelial adhesion. In contrast, in Pemphigus, the epithelium tends to disintegrate rather than form a bulla.
Nikolsky's sign is present in pemphigus and cicatricial pemphigoid, but not in bullous pemphigoid.
Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]
In mucous membrane pemphigoid, the autoimmune reaction occurs in the skin, specifically at the level of the basement membrane, which connects the lower skin layer (dermis) to the upper skin layer (epidermis) and keeps it attached to the body.
When the condition is active, the basement membrane is dissolved by the antibodies produced, and areas of skin lift away at the base, causing hard blisters which scar if they burst. In other words, this is a desquamating/blistering disease in which the epithelium "unzips" from the underlying connective tissue, allowing fluid to gather that subsequently manifest as bullae, or blisters.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnostic techniques:
- antibodies (IgG) precipitate complement (C3) in the lamina lucida of the basement membrane.
- Circulating auto-antibodies to BP-1 antigen (located in hemidesmosome). 50% have BP-2.
- Positive Nikolsky sign.
- IgG, C3 deposition at BM creating smooth line in immunofluorescent analysis.
Management[edit | edit source]
The management depends upon the severity of the condition. For example, where there are lesions in the mouth alone, systemic drugs are less likely to be used. Where the condition is not limited to the mouth, or where there is poor response to Topical treatments, systemic drugs are more likely to be used.[4]
Conservative[edit | edit source]
Simple measures that can be taken include avoidance of hard, sharp or rough foods, and taking care when eating. Good oral hygiene is also usually advised, and professional oral hygiene measures such as periodontal scaling.[4]
Medications[edit | edit source]
Topical and intralesional (injected into the affected areas) corticosteroid drugs may be used, such as fluocinonide, clobetasol propionate or triamcinolone acetonide. Oral candidiasis may develop with long term topical steroid use, and sometimes antimycotics such as miconazole gel or chlorhexidine mouthwash are used to prevent this. Topical ciclosporin is sometimes used.
Dapsone is sometimes used as a steroid sparing agent. The dose is often increased very slowly in order to minimize side effects. Systemic steroids, such as prednisone or prednisolone may be needed in severe cases. Many other drugs have been used to treat mucous membrane pemphoid, including azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, thalidomide, mycophenolate mofetil, leflunomide, sulphasalazine, sulphapuridine, sulphamethoxypiridazine, tetracyclines (e.g. minocycline, doxycycline) and nicotinamide.[4]
Other treatments[edit | edit source]
Plasmapheresis appears to help some cases. Sometimes surgical procedures are required to repair scars, prevent complications such as blindness, upper airway stenosis or esophageal stricture.[4]
See also[edit | edit source]
- Gestational pemphigoid
- List of cutaneous conditions
- List of target antigens in pemphigoid
- List of immunofluorescence findings for autoimmune bullous conditions
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-138076-0.
- ↑ Chen, Peggy. "Brunsting-Perry cicatricial pemphigoid". dermnetz.org. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ↑
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3
External links[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
