Pemphigus

Pemphigus is an autoimmune disorder in which your antibodies attack healthy cells in your skin and mouth, causing blisters and sores. No one knows what causes this attack. Pemphigus does not spread from person to person. It does not appear to be inherited. But some people’s genes put them more at risk for pemphigus.
Pemphigoid is also an autoimmune skin disease. It leads to deep blisters that do not break easily. Pemphigoid is most common in older adults and may be fatal.
The treatment of pemphigus and pemphigoid is the same: one or more medicines. These may include
Steroids, which reduce inflammation
Drugs that suppress the immune system response
Antibiotics to treat associated infections
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Bullous Disease(American Academy of Dermatology)
What Is Pemphigus?(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
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Pemphigoid and Pemphigus(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
Pemphigus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Questions and Answers about Pemphigus(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Diagnosis/Symptoms
Tips for Getting a Proper Diagnosis of an Autoimmune Disease(American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association)
Coping
Coping with Autoimmunity(American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association)
Specific Conditions
Bullous Pemphigoid(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Cicatricial Pemphigoid(American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology) Return to top
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Pemphigus Vulgaris(Logical Images) Return to top
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov: Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Pemphigoid, Bullous(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Pemphigus(National Institutes of Health) Return to top
Research
NIAMS Researchers Discover New Treatment Target for Autoimmune Blistering Skin Diseases(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Return to top
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References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Article: A single helper T cell clone is sufficient to commit...
Article: Pemphigus vulgaris IgG cause loss of desmoglein-mediated adhesion and keratinocyte...
Article: In situ detection of inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis in pemphigus...
Pemphigus -- see more articles Return to top
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Pemphigus Return to top
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Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
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American Academy of Dermatology
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Date last updated: 15 April 2009 Topic last reviewed: 18 March 2009