Bullous Pemphigoid – Bullous Pemphigoid the immune system attacks the hemidesmosomes that results in large, tense subepidermal blisters.
Bullous Pemphigoid Symptoms
Treatment for Bullous Pemphigoid
Bullous Pemphigoid vs Pemphigus Vulgaris
- Pemphigus is characterized by shallow ulcers or fragile blisters that break open quickly.
- Pemphigoid presents withstronger or “tense” blisters that don’t open easily. Those with pemphigoid are also more likely to have hot, red and itchy hive spots.
Bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris are two different blistering autoimmune diseases. In bullous pemphigoid, autoantibodies attack the hemidesmosomes, which connect epidermal keratinocytes to the basement membrane. This attack results in large, tense subepidermal blisters. In pemphigus vulgaris, autoantibodies attack the desmosomal proteins, which connect the keratinocytes to one another. This attack results in a more severe, potentially fatal condition with fragile, flaccid blisters, usually with significant mucosal involvement. Diagnosis is made with biopsy and IF staining to identify and localize the antibodies. Management involves immunosuppression with corticosteroids and other steroid-sparing immunomodulatory agents.
Herpes Gestationis or Pemphigoid gestationis
Herpes Gestationis is an autoimmune disease of the skin that occurs exclusively in association with pregnancy (or trophoblastic disease). It is associated with the HLA-DR3 and -DR4 antigens that are also associated with several other autoimmune diseases.
Pemphigoid gestationis is a rare pregnancy-associated autoimmune skin disease that is characterised by an itchy rash that develops into blisters.
