Pemphigus

Pemphigus is a rare disease in the United States that causes blistering inside the skin and inside the body’s parts including the mouth, throat, eyes, genitals, and nose. It is an autoimmune disease that attacks the body itself by accidentally—specifically the epidermis and the mucous membrane. This autoimmune disease manifests due to a production of antibodies that reduce proteins that help bind skin cells to one another, making the skin more fragile. As the skin becomes more fragile, fluid can often build up in between layers, resulting in blisters.

Severity

Paraneoplastic pemphigus include severe lung disease and sores in mucous membranes and on the skin.

Affected Demographic

Those of Jewish, Indian, Southeast European, or Middle Eastern ethnicities have a higher risk of developing the disease, while Brazil and Tsunia have a greater geographic disposition to the disease. Women usually get the disease more often than men, and the most common age to develop the disease is between 50 and 60 years old. The decrease in immune system efficiency can be attributed to a genetic variant of the HLA, genes which have been linked to an increase in autoimmune diseases. Additionally, certain medications and cancerous tumors can trigger the disease.

Treatment

A doctor may assess a patient and prescribe corticosteroids, bioresponse modifiers, and antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungal medications. If these medications do not work, then immunosuppressants, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

Sources

1. “Pemphigus.” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 20 Aug. 2024, www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/pemphigus#:~:text=Pemphigus%20is%20a%20disease%20that,epidermis.