Combined treatment of periodontal disease and benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. Case report with 8 years maintenance

European Guidelines (S3) on diagnosis and management of mucous membrane pemphigoid, initiated by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology - Part II

This guideline has been initiated by the task force Autoimmune Blistering Diseases of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, including physicians from all relevant disciplines and patient organizations. It is a S3 consensus-based guideline that systematically reviewed the literature on mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases until June 2019, with no limitations on language. While the first part of this guideline addressed methodology, as well as epidemiology, terminology, aetiology, clinical presentation and outcome measures in MMP, the second part presents the diagnostics and management of MMP. MMP should be suspected in cases with predominant mucosal lesions. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy to detect tissue-bound IgG, IgA and/or complement C3, combined with serological testing for circulating autoantibodies are recommended. In most patients, serum autoantibodies are present only in low levels and in variable proportions, depending on the clinical sites involved. Circulating autoantibodies are determined by indirect IF assays using tissue substrates, or ELISA using different recombinant forms of the target antigens or immunoblotting using different substrates. The major target antigen in MMP is type XVII collagen (BP180), although in 10-25% of patients laminin 332 is recognized. In 25-30% of MMP patients with anti-laminin 332 reactivity, malignancies have been associated. As first-line treatment of mild/moderate MMP, dapsone, methotrexate or tetracyclines and/or topical corticosteroids are recommended. For severe MMP, dapsone and oral or intravenous cyclophosphamide and/or oral corticosteroids are recommended as first-line regimens. Additional recommendations are given, tailored to treatment of single-site MMP such as oral, ocular, laryngeal, oesophageal and genital MMP, as well as the diagnosis of ocular MMP. Treatment recommendations are limited by the complete lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials.

Low-level laser therapy in the treatment of mucous membrane pemphigoid: a promising procedure

BACKGROUND

Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a heterogeneous group of autoimmune, subepithelial, blistering diseases. A combination of topical and systemic steroid treatment is often used when managing patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid. The use of systemic steroids presents an increased risk of adverse side effects. Consequently, effective alternative modalities of therapy should be considered, such as the application of low-level laser therapy (LLLT).

METHODS

A patient presented with mucous membrane pemphigoid and was successfully treated with the application of local corticosteroids and LLLT using an 810-nm diode laser. The lesions were treated by LLLT over a period of 7 days using a continuous waveform for 40 seconds and an energy density of 5 J/cm(2).

RESULTS

After treatment, a significant improvement in tissue color and consistency was observed. The patient was followed every month for a period of 12 months, and the lesions healed uneventfully.

CONCLUSION

The results reported in this case show that the healing of mucous membrane pemphigoid was achieved when LLLT was used as an adjunct to the application of a local corticosteroid.

Desquamative gingivitis as a manifestation of chronic mucocutaneous disease

Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a clinical descriptive term indicating "peeling gums". DG is usually the result of a disease process that causes separation of the epithelium from the underlying connective tissue in the oral masticatory mucosa. DG may be a manifestation of several mucocutaneous diseases, most commonly cicatricial pemphigoid, pemphigus vulgaris and lichen planus. Correct diagnosis of the underlying disease in DG patients requires careful clinical observation, detailed examination of medical history, biopsy and histopathological examination of the lesions as well as more specialized tests such as direct and indirect immunofluorescence. Treatment of DG consists of treating the underlying disease and often requires the use of immunosuppressive agents, such as corticosteroids. Elimination of local gingival irritants, such as dental plaque and calculus, can significantly improve the treatment outcome.

Oral mucosal diseases: Mucous membrane pemphigoid

Subepithelial vesiculobullous conditions are chronic autoimmune disorders that arise from reactions directed against components of the hemidesmosomes or basement membrane zones (BMZ) of stratified squamous epithelium to which the term immune-mediated subepithelial blistering diseases (IMSEBD) has been given. Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is the most common, but variants do exist. Non-immune disorders that involve these epithelial components typically have a genetic basis--the main example being epidermolysis bullosa. All subepithelial vesiculobullous disorders present as blisters and erosions, and diagnosis must be confirmed by biopsy examination with immunostaining, sometimes supplemented by other investigations. No single treatment reliably controls all subepithelial vesiculobullous disorders; the immunological differences within IMSEBD may account for differences in responses to treatment. Currently, as well as improving oral hygiene, immunomodulatory treatment is used to control the oral lesions of MMP, but it is not known if its specific subsets reliably respond to different agents.

A combined treatment regimen for desquamative gingivitis in patients with oral lichen planus

BACKGROUND

Chronic desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a condition characterized by erythema, ulceration, and desquamation of the free and attached gingiva, usually expression of a district-systemic disease, such as oral lichen planus (OLP).

METHODS

A combined protocol of oral hygiene and topic corticosteroid therapy was applied in 30 patients with DG associated with OLP. Plaque index (PI) and bleeding on probing (BoP) were evaluated at baseline and after 3 months.

RESULTS

PI scoring was significantly lower after treatment in anterior, posterior, and all sites (P < 0.0001) as well as in vestibular and lingual ones (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0001, respectively). BoP measures were found to be reduced significantly to 22.94% in a full-mouth evaluation (P < 0.0001; OR = 2.633; 95% CI: 2.2685-3.0561) as well as in each specific site (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

This clinical trial validated the efficacy, in patients with DG associated with OLP, of a protocol based on professional oral hygiene and self-performed plaque control measures in improving of gingival health status.

Position Paper: Oral Features of Mucocutaneous Disorders

Part of periodontology involves the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of non-plaque-related diseases of the periodontium. The International Workshop for a Classification of Periodontal Diseases and Conditions noted that the periodontist may be called upon to manage non-plaque-related mucocutaneous disorders either alone, or as part of a treatment team consisting of physicians, dentists or other allied health care professionals. This informational paper will review the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of the most common chronic mucocutaneous diseases, including those that may present as desquamative gingivitis or intraoral vesiculobullous lesions. This paper is intended for the use of periodontists and other members of the dental profession.