Bullous Pemphigoid Limited to the Hands and Feet: A Rare Case of an Infantile Disease Pattern Seen in an Elderly Patient

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune disease that normally presents in older adults, with large bullae distributed over the whole body. Acrally limited BP is a rare pattern of disease that is almost always seen in childhood or infancy. We present an unusual case of a 97-year-old woman with this disease variant and discuss her risk factors which may have contributed to her presentation. Providers should be aware of cases like this so that they can more accurately diagnose and treat their patients.

Analysis of the autoimmune response to BP180 in Chinese stroke patients

BACKGROUND

Significant association between bullous pemphigoid (BP) and stroke has been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the level of anti-BP180 antibody in stroke patients to explore the relationship between BP and stroke in their pathogenesis.

METHODS

We collected serum samples from stroke patients and matched controls between February 2019 and June 2020. The anti-BP180 antibody levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

A total of 1183 stroke patients including 970 with cerebral infarction (CI), 192 with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), 21 with CI and ICH, and 855 controls were enrolled in this study. Anti-BP180 autoantibody values were significantly higher in stroke patients than in controls (p<0.001). Anti-BP180 autoantibody-positive rates were 12.51% (148) in stroke patients and 4.68% (40) in controls (p<0.001, OR=2.65). In anti-BP180 autoantibody-positive subjects, the values were significantly higher in stroke patients than in controls (p<0.001). However, only 10 (6.76%) stroke patients and 3 (7.5%) controls had high values (> 100 RU/mL) (p=0.87). Stratified analysis showed that anti-BP180 antibody positive rates were independent of age, sex, and stroke subtypes in the stroke group. Positive rates in patients with both CI and ICH were nearly two times higher than those in patients with either CI or ICH alone (p=0.11, OR=1.94).

STUDY LIMITATIONS

This study had a limited sample size and lacked quantitative criteria for stroke severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-BP180 antibody values and positive rates were higher in stroke patients than in controls, suggesting that stroke patients may have higher of developing BP.

Type XVII collagen: Relevance of distinct epitopes, complement-independent effects, and association with neurological disorders in pemphigoid disorders

Pemphigoid diseases (PD) are autoimmune skin blistering diseases characterized by autoantibodies directed against proteins of the cutaneous basement membrane zone (BMZ). One of the major antigens is type XVII collagen (BP180), a transmembrane glycoprotein, which is targeted in four PDs: bullous pemphigoid, mucous membrane pemphigoid, linear IgA dermatosis, and pemphigoid gestationis. To date, different epitopes on BP180 have been described to be recognized by PD disease patients’ autoantibodies. Different BP180 epitopes were associated with distinct clinical phenotypes while the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. So far, the main effects of anti-BP180 reactivity are mediated by Fcγ-receptors on immune cells. More precisely, the autoantibody–antigen interaction leads to activation of complement at the BMZ and infiltration of immune cells into the upper dermis and, by the release of specific enzymes and reactive oxygen species, to the degradation of BP180 and other BMZ components, finally manifesting as blisters and erosions. On the other hand, inflammatory responses independent of Fcγ-receptors have also been reported, including the release of proinflammatory cytokines and internalization and depletion of BP180. Autoantibodies against BP180 can also be found in patients with neurological diseases. The assumption that the clinical expression of PD depends on epitope specificity in addition to target antigens, autoantibody isotypes, and antibody glycosylation is supported by the observation that epitopes of PD patients differ from those of PD patients. The aim of the present review is to describe the fine specificities of anti-BP180 autoantibodies in different PDs and highlight the associated clinical differences. Furthermore, the direct effects after binding of the autoantibodies to their target are summarized.

Comorbid diseases among bullous pemphigoid patients in Germany: new insights from a case-control study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Other comorbid diseases are discussed controversially. We evaluated the prevalence of comorbidity in BP patients in a representative area of Germany.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Medical files of all BP patients treated at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany, between June 2002 and May 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Bullous pemphigoid was diagnosed based on established criteria. For each patient, two controls were individually matched. Records were evaluated for age, sex, laboratory values, concomitant medication and comorbidity. Conditional logistic regression, multivariable regression analysis and complex regression models were performed to compare results.

RESULTS

300 BP patients were identified and compared to 583 controls. Bullous pemphigoid was associated with neuropsychiatric disorders as well as laboratory abnormalities including leukocytosis and eosinophilia. Importantly, a highly significant association of BP with anemia (OR 2.127; 95 % CI 1.532-2.953) and renal impairment (OR 2.218; 95 % CI 1.643-2.993) was identified. No association was found with malignancy and arterial hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data revealed an increased frequency of anemia and renal impairment in BP patients. In accordance with previous studies the strong association for neuropsychiatric disorders was confirmed (p < 0.0005).

The Relationship Between Alzheimer's Disease and Skin Diseases: A Review

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia placing a heavy burden on the healthcare system worldwide. Skin diseases are also one of the most common health problems. Several skin diseases are associated with Alzheimer's disease through different mechanisms. This review summarizes the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and several types of skin diseases, including bullous pemphigoid, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, skin cancer, and cutaneous amyloidosis, and provides suggestions based on these associations. Neurologists, dermatologists, and general practitioners should be aware of the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and skin diseases. Dermatology/neurology consultation or referral is necessary when needed.

Analysis of the autoimmune response against BP180 in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Background

Current epidemiological studies suggest a significant correlation between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and bullous pemphigoid (BP). However, the autoimmune response against BP180 in patients with AD has not been fully understood. investigated.

Methods

We randomly enrolled 48 patients with AD and 50 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. We detected the presence/absence and the level of anti-BP180/BP230 immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies in the patients' serum to determine whether said antibodies possess reactivity against the BP180 protein in the human brain and skin.

Results

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results revealed that the positive rate of anti-BP180 autoantibodies in patients with AD (23/48, 47.9%) was significantly higher than that in controls (4/50, 8.0%; P<0.0001). These ELISA-positive patients were further examined through immunoblotting. Sera from nine patients with AD (9/23, 39.1%) and one control (1/4, 25.0%) reacted with human cutaneous recombinant full-length BP180 and BP180-noncollagenous 16A (NC16A). Sera from 11 (11/23, 47.8%) patients with AD reacted with a 180-kDa protein from the human brain extract, but none of the controls' sera recognized the corresponding protein band. The majority of the patients in the anti-BP180-positive AD group were men (14/23, 60.9%) who were older (74.0 years) compared with those in the control group (6/25, 24.0%; P<0.05) (72.2 years; P<0.01).

Conclusions

Anti-BP180 autoantibodies are present in AD and recognize human recombinant full-length BP180 and a 180-kDa protein from the human brain extract, suggesting that BP180 is a shared autoantigen in AD and BP and may help clarify the mechanism to explain why a high risk of BP exists in AD. Elderly male patients with AD are significantly more likely to develop BP180 serum autoreactivity compared with other patients with AD.

Detection of underlying dementia in bullous pemphigoid patients using cognitive evaluation tests: a multicenter case-control study

Background

Preliminary observation in clinical practice showed that subjective neurocognitive complaints are relatively common in bullous pemphigoid (BP) patients. Yet, little has been done to investigate the neurocognitive status in BP.

Methods

This is a multicenter observational case-control study comprised of 61 BP patients and 65 matched control subjects from 3 medical centers in China from 2014 to 2019. To evaluate the cognitive function between BP patients and matched controls, all the subjects finished the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA).

Results

The overall scores were significantly lower in BP than in controls (P_MoCA<0.001). The percentage of patients screened positive for cognitive impairment in the BP group was significantly higher than in the control group (P_MMSE<0.001, P_MoCA<0.001). On multivariate analysis, BP was associated with increased odds of cognitive impairment by MMSE and MoCA (P_MMSE=0.017, P_MoCA=0.007).

Conclusions

BP patients had decreased cognitive abilities and were at a higher risk of cognitive impairment. The evaluation of cognitive impairment may be warranted for BP patients in clinical practice for early diagnosis and therapy of dementia.

The Alzheimer patient from the dermatologist's point of view

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a cluster of signs and symptoms that include memory loss, language disturbances, psychological and psychiatric changes and difficulty in carrying out daily activities. Although it may seem to be far from a dermatologic competence, the ageing of populations in industrialized and developing countries has changed things, making AD a multidisciplinary question. Indeed, this neurodegenerative disorder is not exclusively neurological, but rather may involve multiple tissues and organs. The abnormalities in metabolic and biochemical processes described in affected brains are also present in the skin and may condition specific dermatological manifestations. In fact, although a history of non-melanoma skin cancer is linked to a significantly reduced risk of developing AD, this is not so for melanoma. Several biological, social and environmental hypotheses can be advanced to explain these correlations. AD patients' memory problems and the partial inability to express an informed consent, could make a simple tumor excision challenging for a dermatologic surgeon. Moreover, attention should also be paid to the possibility of pharmacological interactions with AD therapies and to surgery timing. Observational studies have provided evidence for a non-spurious correlation between bullous pemphigoid (BP) and dementia. The demonstration of neurological isoforms of both BP180 and BP230 in the central nervous system has provided partial explanations for these findings and raised the question as to whether AD patients should be given accurate screening for BP and vice versa. Some adverse skin reactions have been observed with AD drugs and although mainly localized others are diffuse. Importantly, some of these drugs are available for administration in a patch or systemic form. When dealing with bedridden patients, the skin examination should be as complete as possible, since ulcer location is not only influenced by pressure and paratonia but also by spasticity, conditioning wounds in atypical sites.

Psychiatric comorbidity in individuals with bullous pemphigoid and all bullous disorders in the Danish national registers

BACKGROUND

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering skin disease that takes a profound physical and mental toll on those affected. The aim of the study was to investigate the bidirectional association between BP and all bullous disorders (ABD) with a broad array of psychiatric disorders, exploring the influence of prescribed medications.

METHODS

This nationwide, register-based cohort study encompassed 6,470,450 individuals born in Denmark and alive from 1994 to 2016. The hazard ratios (HRs) of a subsequent psychiatric disorder in patients with BP/ABD and the reverse exposure and outcome were evaluated.

RESULTS

Several psychiatric disorders were associated with increased risk of subsequent BP (4.18-fold for intellectual disorders, 2.32-fold for substance use disorders, 2.01-fold for schizophrenia and personality disorders, 1.92-1.85-1.49-fold increased risk for organic disorders, neurotic and mood disorders), independent of psychiatric medications. The association between BP and subsequent psychiatric disorders was not significant after adjusting for BP medications, except for organic disorders (HR 1.27, CI 1.04-1.54). Similar results emerged with ABD.

CONCLUSION

Psychiatric disorders increase the risk of a subsequent diagnosis of BP/ABD independent of medications, whereas medications used for the treatment of BP/ABD appear to account for the subsequent onset of psychiatric disorders. Clinically, an integrated approach attending to both dermatological and psychiatric symptoms is recommended, and dermatologists should remain vigilant for early symptoms of psychiatric disorders to decrease mental health comorbidity.

Neurological Cancer is a Risk Factor for Bullous Pemphigoid: 11-Year Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

There is evidence suggesting an association between bullous pemphigoid (BP) and a range of neurological diseases. Whether neurological cancer is a risk factor for BP remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate the risk of subsequent BP among patients with neurological cancer.

METHODS

This nationwide population-based cohort study was based on data obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2012. A total of 8313 patients with neurological cancer and 33,252 age-, sex-, and index-date-matched controls were recruited. The hazard ratio (HR) for subsequent BP in patients with neurological cancer was analyzed using a Cox model and Fine-Gray competing risk model, with mortality as the competing event.

RESULTS

The incidence rates of BP per 100,000 person-years were 37.2 for patients with neurological cancer and 6.8 for controls. The crude incidence rate ratio was 5.49 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.18-13.30). The mean time to occurrence of BP was 4.48 ± 3.40 years for patients with neurological cancer. Neurological cancer (HR 9.65, 95% CI 3.76-24.77 for the Cox model; HR 2.41, 95% CI 1.14-5.14 for the competing risk model), age per year (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05-1.15 for the Cox model; HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.09 for the competing risk model), and dementia (HR 6.31, 95% CI 2.49-15.99 for the Cox model; HR 7.50, 95% CI 2.84-19.85 for the competing risk model) significantly increased the risk of BP.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurological cancer increased the risk for subsequent BP by 2.4-fold, with a relatively short gap of 4.5 years.

A Monocentric Retrospective Observational Study of Comorbidities in Patients Affected by Autoimmune Bullous Diseases

BACKGROUND/AIM

Autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBDs) of the skin and mucosae include a heterogeneous group of chronic diseases, which could be associated with various comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the comorbidity profiles of patients affected by AIBDs, who referred to the Dermatological Clinic of Padua from December 2015 to June 2018.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A monocentric retrospective observational study was conducted on 157 patients with diagnosis of AIBDs. Patients' comorbidities were investigated during the periodic visits of follow-up and through the analysis of computerized medical records.

RESULTS

Among the 157 patients, 40 (25.5%) were diagnosed with PV, 15 (9.6%) with PF, and 102 (64.9%) with BP. Nine different comorbidities were observed, but only two of these were statistically significantly associated with BP: type 2 diabetes (p=0.0142) and neuropsychiatric disorders (p=0.015).

CONCLUSION

BP is statistically significantly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and neuropsychiatric diseases. The correlation with neuropsychiatric pathologies is interesting for the possible bidirectional role in their etiology. The association with type 2 diabetes mellitus could suggest more caution in the administration of systemic corticosteroids, especially in elderly patients.

Demographics and Autoantibody Profiles of Pemphigoid Patients with Underlying Neurologic Diseases

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoantibody-mediated blistering disease that is often associated with neurologic disease. BP antibodies target two epidermal adhesion molecules, known as BP180 and BP230. Homologues to these proteins are found in the brain, and it is hypothesized that neurologic disease leads to the production of autoantibodies that can cross-react with their cutaneous forms. To better understand the link between BP and neurologic disease, we evaluated primary demographic features (age, sex, race, ethnicity, and elapsed time between onset of skin symptoms and BP diagnosis), severity of BP, and IgG and IgE autoantibody levels in BP control individuals and patients with BP with preceding Parkinson disease, dementia, and stroke. The main findings of this study are that patients with BP with preceding neurologic disease have a shorter elapsed time between onset of skin disease and BP diagnosis and that patients with preceding Parkinson disease or dementia, but not stroke, are significantly older than patients with BP without neurologic disease. However, no significant differences in clinical presentation, BP severity scores, or autoantibody (IgG and IgE) responses were observed among the groups. These findings suggest that, despite the age difference, the clinical phenotype of BP is not affected by preceding neurologic disease.

Neurological disorders are associated with bullous pemphigoid

BACKGROUND

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common subepidermal autoimmune blistering disease with an increased incidence particularly among the elderly. Several studies have recently reported an association between BP and neurological disorders.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between BP and neurological disorders in a single centre in Germany.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed 183 patients with BP (diagnosed between 2011 and 2015) and 348 age- and sex-matched controls for neurological disorders. The latter were confirmed either by a neurologist or psychiatrist.

RESULTS

Overall, there was a highly statistically significant association between BP and neurological disorders (P < 0.0001). These included dementia (P < 0.0001), Parkinson`s disease (P = 0.0434), stroke (P = 0.0015) and other neurological disorders but not Alzheimer's diseases, which was more common among patients in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Our cohort of bullous pemphigoid and neurological disorders demonstrates a significant association between bullous pemphigoid and neurological disorders, including dementia, Parkinson's disease and stroke. These observations support the need for future studies in order to elucidate the immunological mechanisms responsible for these comorbidities.

Anti-BP180 Autoantibodies Are Present in Stroke and Recognize Human Cutaneous BP180 and BP180-NC16A

Objective: Current evidence has revealed a significant association between bullous pemphigoid (BP) and neurological diseases (ND), including stroke, but the incidence of BP autoantibodies in patients with stroke has not previously been investigated. Our study aimed to assess BP antigen-specific antibodies in stroke patients. Design: One hundred patients with stroke and 100 matched healthy controls were randomly selected for measurement of anti-BP180/BP230 IgG autoantibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), salt-split indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), and immunoblotting against human cutaneous BP180 and BP180-NC16A. Results: Anti-BP180 autoantibodies were found in 14 (14.0%) patients with stroke and 5 (5.0%) of controls by ELISA (p < 0.05). Sera from 13 (13.0%) patients with stroke and 3 (3.0%) controls reacted with 180-kDa proteins from human epidermal extract (p < 0.05). 11 (11.0%) of stroke and 2 (2.0%) of control sera recognized the human recombinant full length BP180 and NC16A (p < 0.05). The anti-BP180-positive patients were significantly younger than the negative patients at the time of stroke (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Development of anti-BP180 autoantibodies occurs at a higher frequency after stroke, suggesting BP180 as a relatively common autoantigen after stroke and providing novel insights into BP pathogenesis in aging.

Cancer is not a risk factor for bullous pemphigoid: 10-year population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune bullous disease. Whether there is an increased risk for subsequent BP among patients with cancer is still unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the risk for subsequent BP in patients with cancer.

METHODS

This nationwide population-based cohort study was based on data obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database between 2000 and 2011. A total of 36 838 patients with cancer and 147 352 age-, sex- and index-date-matched controls were recruited. The hazard ratio (HR) of subsequent BP in the patients with cancer was analysed using a Fine-Gray competing risk regression model with mortality as the competing event.

RESULTS

The incidence of BP per 100 000 person-years was 17·2 in the patients with cancer and 19·8 in the controls; therefore, the crude incidence rate ratio was 0·87 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·53-1·36]. The HR of subsequent BP in the patients with cancer was 0·47 (95% CI 0·23-0·94) using the Fine-Gray competing risk regression model. Age (HR 1·05, 95% CI 1·03-1·07), diabetes mellitus (HR 1·69, 95% CI 1·10-2·59) and cerebrovascular disease (HR 2·14, 95% CI 1·36-3·34) were independent risk factors for BP.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of BP in patients with cancer was not higher than in the control group. Cancer is not a risk factor for BP.

Biological predictors shared by dementia and bullous pemphigoid patients point out a cross-antigenicity between BP180/BP230 brain and skin isoforms

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) following dementia diagnosis has been reported in the elderly. Skin and brain tissues express BP180 and BP230 isoforms. Dementia has been associated with rs6265 (Val66Met) polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and low serum BDNF. Here we investigated a possible cross-antigenicity between BP180/BP230 brain and skin isoforms. We assessed antibodies against BP180/BP230 and BDNF levels by ELISA and BDNF Val66Met SNP by PCR in three groups: 50 BP patients, 50 patients with dementia, and 50 elderly controls. Heatmap hierarchical clustering and data mining decision tree were used to analyze the patients' demographic and laboratorial data as predictors of dementia-BP association. Sixteen percent of BP patients with the lowest serological BDNF presented dementia-BP clinical association. Anti-BP180/230 positivity was unexpected observed among dementia patients (10%, 10%) and controls (14%, 1%). Indirect immunofluorescence using healthy human skin showed a BP pattern in two of 10 samples containing antibodies against BP180/BP230 obtained from dementia group but not in the control samples. Neither allelic nor genotypic BDNF Val66Met SNP was associated with dementia or with BP (associated or not with clinical manifestation of dementia). Heatmap analysis was able to differentiate the three studied groups and confirmed the ELISA results. The comprehensive data mining analysis revealed that BP patients and dementia patients shared biological predictors that justified the dementia-BP association. Autoantibodies against the BP180/BP230 brain isoforms produced by dementia patients could cross-react with the BP180/BP230 skin isoforms, which could justify cases of dementia preceding the BP disease.

Mortality in bullous pemphigoid and prognostic factors in 1st and 3rd year of follow-up in specialized centre in Poland

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is associated with higher mortality and coexisting comorbidities, some of them affecting poor prognosis. The aim of the study was to identify prognostic factors causing greater mortality both in the 1st and 3rd year of follow-up and to determine the 1-, 2-, 3-year mortality rates, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) in Polish BP patients. All patients with BP (a cohort of 205 patients, mean age 76.2 years) diagnosed between 5 January 2000 and 10 December 2013 in a referral unit for autoimmune bullous diseases at the university hospital in Poland were included retrospectively. Mortality data were obtained from the Centre for Document Personalization at the Minister of Interior and Administration. Our original observation was that prednisone in moderate dose (0.5 mg kg^-1) in monotherapy was an independent risk factor of fatal prognosis in the 1st year of follow-up, assessed using multivariate analysis. We confirmed the strong correlation between neurological diseases and greater mortality. Both in the 1st and 3rd year of follow-up, dementia and Parkinson disease resulted in increased mortality. We also found that arrhythmias significantly increased mortality in the 1st and 3rd year of follow-up. The prognostic factors in BP changed over time of follow-up. In the 3rd year of observation, the age above 77, longer hospitalization and BP severity were associated with greater mortality. We observed poorer prognosis in BP patients than age-matched general Polish population. The 1-, 2-, 3-year mortality rates were 22.4, 31.2, 39.5% and SMR was 3.8 (95% CI 3.4-3.7).

Frequency of Neurological Disorders in Bullous Pemphigoid Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering skin disorder which occurs mostly in the elderly. Several studies have reported an association between BP and neurological disorders (ND).

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between BP and neurological disorders in Iranian patients.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 87 patients with BP were enrolled. They were compared to 184 controls. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS statistical software version 19.

Results

Out of 87 patients with BP, 17 (19.5%) had at least one neurological disease. Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) was the most common neurological disease that was seen in 7 patients (8.0%) in the case group and 4 (2.1%) in the control group. The incidence of CVA was significantly different between BP patients and the control group (P = 0.022). Dementia was observed in 6 patients in the case group (16.8%) and 2 (1.0%) in the control group. The incidence of dementia was significantly different between BP patients and the control group (P = 0.008). In this study, the incidences of Parkinson's disease (P = 0.830), epilepsy (P = 0.067), and multiple sclerosis (P = 0.326) were not statistically significant between the two groups.

Conclusion

The incidence of CVA and dementia in patients with BP compared to the control group was significantly higher.

Analysis of the autoimmune response against BP180 and BP230 in ethnic Poles with neurodegenerative disorders and bullous pemphigoid

Recent studies postulated the association between bullous pemphigoid (BP) and neurodegenerative disorders (ND). The autoantibodies to BP180 and/or BP230 may be present not only in BP, but also in ND as neuronal isoforms of these proteins are identified in the central nervous system. However, there are only scant data about the precise pathogenetic mechanisms interlinking ND and BP as well as the immunologic profile in these patients. The aim is to analyze the serological immunopathological profiles (anti-BP180 IgG, anti-BP230 IgG) in BP patients with and without ND in order to identify the specific autoantibody(ies) and corresponding antigens responsible for ND development in BP patients.

Altogether, 82 ethnic Poles with BP and their medical records were examined (62 BP-ND; 20 BP+ND). Levels of serum anti-BP180/BP230 IgG in BP patients were evaluated with ELISAs. The statistical analyses involved Pearson chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U-test and ranking of autoantibodies.

The prevalence of ND among BP patients was 24.4%. There were no statistically significant differences in autoantigens profiles (anti-BP180/anti-BP230 IgG) between BP+ND and BP-ND groups. There was no relationship between ND development and anti-BP180/anti-BP230 IgG level (p = 0.5933, p = 0.4701, respectively).

The autoantibodies levels of BP+ND and BP-ND patients show insignificant differences suggesting that also in ethnic Poles a hypothetical pathogenetic association of BP and ND, but not only an aging-related epidemiological one, appears to be independent of a particular BP antigen. Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that phenomena of epitopes spreading, immune cross-reaction and conformational changes in BP180/BP230 may underlie BP development in ND patients.

Bullous pemphigoid and neurodegenerative diseases: a study in a setting of a Central European university dermatology department

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering dermatosis of the elderly mediated by IgG and IgE antibodies to skin hemidesmosomal proteins, BP180 and/or BP230, that occur physiologically also in neuronal tissue. It was reported that BP is associated with neurodegenerative diseases (ND). We performed a retrospective study in a setting of a Central European university dermatology department on prevalence of ND in 94 BP patients. 26 out of 94 BP patients had at least one ND. ND included: Parkinson's disease, dementia, stroke, hear loss, tinnitus, blindness, vertigo, neurosyphilis, systemic sclerosis, and epilepsy. Since population aging is conceivably responsible for the rising number of BP cases as a result of immunosenescence-related phenomena, the plausible BP-specific immunopathogenetic relationship between BP and ND deserves to be further experimentally explored.

[Impact of neurological diseases on the prognosis of bullous pemphigoid: A retrospective study of 178 patients]

BACKGROUND

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) mainly affects elderly patients. It is often associated with neurological disorders, which constitute a major risk factor of the disease. The aim of our study was to determine whether neurological disorders, particularly dementia, influence outcome and mortality in BP patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of all patients with BP seen in our dermatology department consecutively between 1997 and 2011. Clinical, immunological and therapeutic data, number of relapses and survival status were compared according to the presence at diagnosis of neurological disorders, particularly dementia.

RESULTS

Among the 178 patients included, an associated neurological disease was present in 84 (47.2%) and dementia in 43 (24.2%) at the time of diagnosis of BP. Patients with associated dementia were older and had a lower Karnofsky index. Sixty-four patients (37.8%) had had at least one clinical relapse of BP, chiefly within the first 18 months after starting therapy. Coexistent neurological disease was not associated with BP relapse (P=0.55) contrary to an extensive BP phenotype at diagnosis (P=0.008). Coexistent neurological disease and/or dementia were associated with higher mortality (P=0.03 and P<0.001, respectively), but did not modify the type or the total duration of BP treatment.

CONCLUSION

A coexistent neurological disease or dementia at the time of diagnosis of BP significantly increase the risk of mortality and shortens the duration of clinical follow-up of patients with BP, thus limiting the analysis of their influence on the outcome of BP itself.

Bullous pemphigoid and neurological disease: statistics from a dermatology service

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune, acquired, cutaneous disease caused by the production of autoantibodies against hemidesmosomes' components in the basement membrane. The estimated incidence in Europe ranges from 7 to 43 cases per million inhabitants per year. Several studies have reported an association between BP and neurological disorders (ND). Our cohort of Bullous pemphigoid and ND is the first in Brazil and showed a significantly high prevalence of neurological and/or psychiatric diseases, especially cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and dementia, in agreement with the prevalence reported in several studies published in the medical literature in recent years.

Neurological disorders in patients with bullous pemphigoid: clinical and experimental investigations

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) are more likely to have neurological diseases (ND).

OBJECTIVES

To compare clinical findings in BP patients with and without ND and to investigate BP180 autoantibody binding in different neuronal tissues of mammalians.

METHODS

Our database was searched for clinical findings of in-patients with the definitive diagnosis of BP. Moreover, brain tissue of mammalians was treated with serum of BP patients with elevated BP180 autoantibodies using biochip mosaics.

RESULTS

Of 85/161 (52.8%) patients had a history of at least one ND (BP+ND). BP180 (P = 0.018), eosinophils (P = 0.043) and patients' accommodation in nursing homes (P < 0.0001) remained in the logistic regression model as significant independent predictors for the presence of ND in patients with BP. Subgroup analysis of community-dwelling BP patients revealed 25/93 (26.9%) patients with ND. In this population, the presence of ND also significantly correlated with BP180 (r = 0.26; P = 0.0003) and eosinophils (r = 0.19; P = 0.0087). In the animal model, no BP180-specific immunofluorescence could be detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support results of previous studies detecting significantly increased frequency of ND in BP patients. We have shown that raised BP180 titres and blood eosinophils are independent predictors for the presence of ND in BP patients. However, our experimental data do not support previous results indicating that specific binding of BP180 antibodies in neuronal tissue plays a pathogenetic role in ND.

Dyshidrosiform pemphigoid with Parkinsonism in a nonagenarian Maharashtrian female

Dyshidrosiform pemphigoid is a rare variant of bullous pemphigoid localized to the hands and feet whose characteristic subepidermal blisters develop as a result of binding of the IgG autoantibodies to intracellular plaque and extracellular face of the hemidesmosome recognizing a 230-kDa plakin molecule (BP230, BPAg1or BPAg1e) and a 180-kDa transmembrane protein. Neurodegenerative processes (viz., stroke, dementia, Parkinsonism, epilepsy, etc) uncover BPAg1-n, an alternatively spliced form of BPAg1-e that stabilizes the cytoskeleton of sensory neurons, generating autoantibodies that may subsequently lead to BP by cross-reacting with BPAg1-e. We present a patient with Parkinsonism who later developed blisters, erosions and crusts localized to the palms and soles, confirmed histopathologically as bullous pemphigoid. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first case report from India wherein Parkinsonism-generated autoantibodies led to the development of dyshidrosiform pemphigoid due to their cross-reactivity with BPAg1-e.

Bullous pemphigoid and comorbidities: a case-control study in Portuguese patients

BACKGROUND

aAlthough rare, bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune blistering disease. Recent studies have shown that patients with bullous pemphigoid are more likely to have neurological and psychiatric diseases, particularly prior to the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.

OBJECTIVE

The aims were: (i) to evaluate the demographic and clinical features of bullous pemphigoid from a database of patients at a Portuguese university hospital and (ii) to compare the prevalence of comorbid conditions before the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid with a control group.

METHODS

Seventy-seven patients with bullous pemphigoid were enrolled in the study. They were compared with 176 age- and gender-matched controls, which also had the same inpatient to outpatient ratio, but no history of bullous or cutaneous malignant disease. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to calculate odds ratios for specific comorbid diseases.

RESULTS

At least one neurologic diagnosis was present in 55.8% of BP patients compared with 20.5% controls (p<0.001). Comparing cases to controls, stroke was seen in 35.1 vs. 6.8%, OR 8.10 (3.80-17.25); dementia in 37.7 vs. 11.9%, OR 5.25 (2.71-10.16); and Parkinson's disease in 5.2 vs. 1.1%, OR 4.91 (0.88-27.44). Using multivariate analysis, all diseases except Parkinson's retained their association with BP. Patients under systemic treatment were eight times more likely to have complications than those treated with topical steroids (p< 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study substantiate the association between BP and neurological diseases. In addition, they highlight the potential complications associated with the treatment of BP.

A population-based study of the association between bullous pemphigoid and neurologic disorders

BACKGROUND

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) has been associated with neurologic disorders.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to analyze the association between BP and neurologic disorders.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with a first lifetime diagnosis of BP between January 1, 1960, and December 31, 2009. Three age- and sex-matched Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents without BP were selected as control subjects for each patient. We compared history of or development of neurologic disorders (dementia, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease, and seizures) between groups using case-control and cohort designs.

RESULTS

In all, 87 patients with BP were identified and matched to 261 control subjects. The odds of a previous diagnosis of any neurologic disorder or a history of dementia were significantly increased among cases compared with controls (odds ratio 6.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.00-15.64; P < .001; and odds ratio 6.75; 95% CI 2.08-21.92; P = .002, respectively). Both Parkinson disease (hazard ratio 8.56; 95% CI 1.55-47.25; P = .01) and any type of neurologic disorder (hazard ratio 2.02; 95% CI 1.17-3.49; P = .01) were significantly more likely to develop during follow-up in patients with than without BP.

LIMITATIONS

Small geographic area and retrospective study design are limitations.

CONCLUSION

Findings confirmed an association of BP with neurologic disorders, especially dementia and Parkinson disease.

Collagen XVII: a shared antigen in neurodermatological interactions?

Collagen XVII is a nonfibril-forming transmembrane collagen, which functions as both a matrix protein and a cell-surface receptor. It is particularly copious in the skin, where it is known to be a structural component of hemidesmosomes. In addition, collagen XVII has been found to be present in the central nervous system, thus offering an explanation for the statistical association between bullous pemphigoid, in which autoimmunity is directed against dermal collagen XVII, and neurological diseases. In support of the hypothesis that collagen XVII serves as a shared antigen mediating an immune response between skin and brain, research on animal and human tissue, as well as numerous epidemiological and case studies, is presented.

Immunopathological characteristics of patients with bullous pemphigoid and neurological disease

BACKGROUND

The relationship between bullous pemphigoid (BP) and neurological disease has been the subject of numerous recent studies and BP antigens and their isoforms have been identified in the central nervous system (CNS). Whilst epidemiological data support this association, little is known about the pathomechanism behind this link and the immunological characteristics of patients with BP and neurological disease, other than multiple sclerosis (MS), has not been studied.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to compare the cutaneous immune response in BP patients with and without neurological disease, to investigate whether or not there is a distinctive immunopathological profile in patients with concomitant BP and neurological disease.

METHODS

Seventy-two patients with BP were included and divided into two groups; those with neurological disease (BP+N, n = 43) and those without (BP-N, n = 29). Patients in BP+N group had a confirmed neurological disease by a hospital physician, neurologist or psychiatrist with positive neurological imaging where appropriate, or a Karnofsky score of 50 or less due to mental impairment. All sera were analysed with indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) using serial dilutions up to 1:120000, immunoblotting (IB) and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for BP180 and BP230.

RESULTS

Median antibody titres by IIF were 1:1600 vs. 1:800 for BP-N and BP+N, respectively, although the difference did not reach statistic significance (P = 0.93, Mann-Whitney U-test). ELISA values for both BP180 and BP230 did not differ significantly between the two groups. Similarly, autoantibodies to specific antigens as identified by ELISA and IB were not related to the presence of neurological disease.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that patients with BP and neurological disease exhibit an immune response to both BP180 and BP230, thus the link between the CNS and the skin is not dependent on a specific antigen, but possibly both antigens or their isoforms may be exposed following a neurological insult, and play a role in generation of an immune response.

Untethering the nuclear envelope and cytoskeleton: biologically distinct dystonias arising from a common cellular dysfunction

Most cases of early onset DYT1 dystonia in humans are caused by a GAG deletion in the TOR1A gene leading to loss of a glutamic acid (ΔE) in the torsinA protein, which underlies a movement disorder associated with neuronal dysfunction without apparent neurodegeneration. Mutation/deletion of the gene (Dst) encoding dystonin in mice results in a dystonic movement disorder termed dystonia musculorum, which resembles aspects of dystonia in humans. While torsinA and dystonin proteins do not share modular domain architecture, they participate in a similar function by modulating a structural link between the nuclear envelope and the cytoskeleton in neuronal cells. We suggest that through a shared interaction with the nuclear envelope protein nesprin-3α, torsinA and the neuronal dystonin-a2 isoform comprise a bridge complex between the outer nuclear membrane and the cytoskeleton, which is critical for some aspects of neuronal development and function. Elucidation of the overlapping roles of torsinA and dystonin-a2 in nuclear/endoplasmic reticulum dynamics should provide insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying the dystonic phenotype.