Pemphigus vulgaris. A presentation of 14 cases and review of the literature

Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2005 Aug-Oct;10(4):282-8.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic vesicular-ampullar mucocutaneous disease that almost always produces oral manifestations. The fact that blisters on the oral mucosa are sometimes the first manifestation of the disease implies that dental professionals must be sufficiently familiarized with the clinical manifestations of PV to ensure early diagnosis and treatment. We present a series of 14 patients with clinically and histologically diagnosed PV seen in the Teaching Unit of Oral Medicine of the University of Murcia (Spain) between 1981 and 2001. A thorough evaluation was made, recording patient age and sex, the location and extent of the lesions, and the signs and symptoms of the disease. Complementary studies were also carried out, with the evaluation of hematological parameters (including blood chemistry), the histology and immunohistochemical characteristics (direct immunofluorescence in 2 cases). Treatment comprised topical corticoids, in 12 cases combined with systemic corticoids, and associated to intralesional corticotherapy in one patient. A good response to treatment was observed in all cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Administration, Topical
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Autoantibodies
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intralesional
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Diseases / blood
  • Mouth Diseases / drug therapy
  • Mouth Diseases / pathology*
  • Mouth Mucosa / pathology
  • Oral Ulcer / pathology
  • Pemphigus / blood
  • Pemphigus / drug therapy
  • Pemphigus / pathology*

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Autoantibodies