Cicatricial pemphigoid diagnosed by the use of indirect immunofluorescence

Number III Mucous membrane pemphigoid

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a sub-epithelial vesiculobullous disorder. It is now quite evident that a number of sub-epithelial vesiculobullous disorders may produce similar clinical pictures, and also that a range of variants of MMP exist, with antibodies directed against various hemidesmosomal components or components of the epithelial basement membrane. The term immune-mediated sub-epithelial blistering diseases (IMSEBD) has therefore been used. Immunological differences may account for the significant differences in their clinical presentation and responses to therapy, but unfortunately data on this are few. The diagnosis and management of IMSEBD on clinical grounds alone is impossible and a full history, general, and oral examination, and biopsy with immunostaining are now invariably required, sometimes supplemented with other investigations. No single treatment regimen reliably controls all these disorders, and it is not known if the specific subsets of MMP will respond to different drugs. Currently, apart from improving oral hygiene, immunomodulatory-especially immunosuppressive-therapy is typically used to control oral lesions. The present paper reviews pemphigoid, describing the present understanding of this fascinating clinical phenotype, summarising the increasing number of subsets with sometimes-different natural histories and immunological features, and outlining current clinical practice.

Desquamative Gingivitis Associated With IgG/IgA Pemphigoid Presents a Challenging Diagnosis and Treatment: A Case Report

BACKGROUND

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a heterogeneous group of autoimmune blistering disorders characterized by subepithelial separation and the deposition of immunoglobulins and complement along the basement membrane zone (BMZ). This disease is diagnosed with direct immunofluorescence testing showing a linear deposition of immunoglobulins and/or complement along the BMZ and indirect immunofluorescence testing showing circulating IgG (and sometimes IgA) autoantibodies along the BMZ. In this case report we describe desquamative gingivitis secondary to IgG/IgA pemphigoid and the management of this challenging variant of MMP.

METHODS

Routine histology, direct immunofluorescence testing, and indirect immunofluorescence testing were utilized and correlated to the clinical findings to diagnose this unusual immunobullous disease.

RESULTS

Direct and indirect immunofluorescence testing confirmed the clinical diagnosis of IgG/IgA pemphigoid as the cause of desquamative gingivitis and the other mucosal findings in this patient. A treatment program including dapsone and other drugs completely resolved the oral lesions after 14 months of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Desquamative gingivitis associated with IgG/IgA pemphigoid can be challenging to diagnose and treat. After 14 months of treatment, a combination therapy consisting of dapsone with cimetidine and vitamin E to enhance drug efficacy and frequent intramuscular administrations of triamcinolone achieved control of both the oral and genital elements of IgG/IgA pemphigoid in this patient.