The purpose of this study is to compare scanning electron microscopy findings of the blister roof in three distinct bullous diseases: one intraepidermal acantholytic (pemphigus foliaceus); one due to hemidesmosomal dysfunction (bullous pemphigoid); and one secondary to anchoring fibril dysfunction - type VII collagen (dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa). In pemphigus foliaceus, acantholytic pheno...

BACKGROUND There are no reported epidemiological data regarding autoimmune pemphigus in the Afro-Caribbean population. OBJECTIVES To present the epidemiology of autoimmune pemphigus on the island of Guadeloupe (French West Indies, 400,736 inhabitants, mostly black Caribbean of African European descent). MATERIALS AND METHODS Five-year prospective study. Inclusion of the incident cases when ...

Pemphigus foliaceus is an organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibodies against the extracellular region of desmoglein 1, a protein that mediates intercellular adhesion in desmosomes. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) is a key negative regulator of the T cell immune response, playing an important role in T cell homeostasis and maintenance of peripheral tol...

From the Division of Immunodermatology, Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicagoa; the Department of Dermatology, Kurume University School of Medicineb; the Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyoc; and the Medicine Service, Section of Dermatology, Lakeside Division, Veterans Affairs Chicago Health Care System.d Supported by a Clini...

The aim of our study was to analyse a significance of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha promoter gene polymorphisms in relation to the HLA-DR locus in genetic predisposition to pemphigus. TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms in position -238 and -308 were identified using a modified polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in 53 patients with pemphigus (38 with pemphig...

Pemphigus foliaceus is a rare, superficial form of pemphigus. Due to acantholysis localised in the stratum corneum or within the upper spinous layer of the epidermis, patients suffer mainly from extensive sores, while blisters are rarely found. The antigen in this form of pemphigus is desmoglein 1. The basic therapy consists of corticosteroids and immunosuppression, but in doses lower than in c...

Journal Compilation © 2012 Acta Dermato-Venereologica. ISSN 0001-5555 Pemphigus is an autoimmune mucocutaneous bullous disease characterized by auto-antibodies against cell surface antigens of epidermal keratinocytes. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) are the major subtypes. Several other variants have been proposed, including pemphigus erythematosus, pemphigus vegetans, pemp...

BACKGROUND Canine pemphigus foliaceus is an autoimmune antibody-mediated skin disease characterized by acantholysis. The objective of this case report is to present the successful management of steroid refractory pemphigus foliaceus with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4)-overexpressing adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (ATMSCs). CASE PRESENTATION A 10-year-old, 12.3-kg, castrated m...

Endemic pemphigus foliaceus, and long-term corticotherapy may affect serum lipid levels. The aim of this study was to compare serum lipids of pemphigus foliaceus patients on glucocorticoid therapy to a healthy control group. Fifteen patients receiving prednisone (0.33 +/- 0.22 mg/kg) for at least 12 months and 15 controls were submitted to 48-h food intake records, anthropometry, and biochemica...