Malignancy in Relation to Autoimmune Blistering Dermatoses: Molecular and Clinical Aspects

Autoimmune blistering dermatoses (ABD) are a group of relatively rare autoantibody-driven diseases affecting primarily skin and/or multiple mucosa. They comprise of two main subdi‐ visions: ABD with autoimmunity to enzymes (dermatitis herpetiformis only) and ABD with autoimmunity to mostly structural proteins (anti-desmosomal autoimmunity circle, antidermal-epidermal junction autoimmunity circle and others). As both coexistent development of organ specific autoimmunity (e.g. myasthenia gravis) and transition between ABD groups are possible, ABD seem to be a part of pathological multiorgan autoimmunization syndrome [1]. The replacement of physiological autoimmunity by pathological autoimmunity and triggering blister formation in ABD still remain unexplored and essential issues. It is suggested that malignancy may be a triggering factor inducing the development of pathological auto‐ immunity. On the other hand, the development of malignancies during chronic immunosup‐ pressive therapy may be observed [2].