Recent advances in mucous membrane pemphigoid

[Diagnostics of ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid]

The diagnosis of ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) remains a challenge as the timing and choice of diagnostic methods have a decisive influence on its quality. A systematic approach is required that includes a comprehensive medical history, critical evaluation of the clinical findings and targeted laboratory testing. The diagnosis is complicated by the fact that some patients present purely clinically the symptoms of MMP without fulfilling the required immunohistochemical and laboratory criteria. Basically, the diagnosis of ocular MMP is based on three pillars: 1) medical history and clinical findings, 2) positive immunohistological (direct immunofluorescence) tissue sample and 3) specific serological autoantibodies. As the diagnosis of ocular MMP often implies prolonged systemic immunomodulatory treatment in predominantly older patients, the accurate diagnosis and approach are of critical relevance. The aim of this article is to present the recently updated diagnostic procedure.

Evaluation of early and late presentation of patients with ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid to two major tertiary referral hospitals in the United Kingdom

PURPOSE

Ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (OcMMP) is a sight-threatening autoimmune disease in which referral to specialists units for further management is a common practise. This study aims to describe referral patterns, disease phenotype and management strategies in patients who present with either early or established disease to two large tertiary care hospitals in the United Kingdom.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 54 consecutive patients with a documented history of OcMMP were followed for 24 months. Two groups were defined: (i) early-onset disease (EOD:<3 years, n=26, 51 eyes) and (ii) established disease (EstD:>5 years, n=24, 48 eyes). Data were captured at first clinic visit, and at 12 and 24 months follow-up. Information regarding duration, activity and stage of disease, visual acuity (VA), therapeutic strategies and clinical outcome were analysed.

RESULTS

Patients with EOD were younger and had more severe conjunctival inflammation (76% of inflamed eyes) than the EstD group, who had poorer VA (26.7%=VA<3/60, P<0.01) and more advanced disease. Although 40% of patients were on existing immunosuppression, 48% required initiation or switch to more potent immunotherapy. In all, 28% (14) were referred back to the originating hospitals for continued care. Although inflammation had resolved in 78% (60/77) at 12 months, persistence of inflammation and progression did not differ between the two phenotypes. Importantly, 42% demonstrated disease progression in the absence of clinically detectable inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

These data highlight that irrespective of OcMMP phenotype, initiation or escalation of potent immunosuppression is required at tertiary hospitals. Moreover, the conjunctival scarring progresses even when the eye remains clinically quiescent. Early referral to tertiary centres is recommended to optimise immunosuppression and limit long-term ocular damage.

Autoimmune bullous diseases the spectrum of infectious agent antibodies and review of the literature

Pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid are two autoimmune diseases that have a similar pathogenesis. Both have a genetic predisposition which promotes the production of auto-antibodies targeted against different components of the epidermal desmosome and hemidesmosome. Environmental factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of this autoimmune disease. Among these, the role of infectious agents was debated as a causative factor. We sought to determine a possible connection between various infectious agents and autoimmune bullous disease (ABD). A cohort of 148 serum samples of patients with pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid and controls was screened for evidence of a prior infection with HBV, HCV, EBV, CMV, Helicobacter pylori, Toxoplasma gondii and Treponema pallidum, utilizing the Bio-Rad BioPlex 2200 system as well as ELISA assays to complete the panel. HBV, HCV, H. pylori, T. gondii and CMV were demonstrated to have significantly higher prevalence of antibodies in patients with pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid in comparison to controls. Among them, we found a novel association between H. pylori and ABD. Our study suggests a contributing role for HBV, HCV, H. pylori, T. gondii and CMV in inducing ABD in the genetically susceptible host.