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- $Unique_ID{BRK04093}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Pemphigoid, Benign Mucosal}
- $Subject{Pemphigoid, Benign Mucosal Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid MMP Cicatricial
- Pemphigoid CP Localized Cicatricial Pemphigoid (Brunsting-Perry Syndrome)
- Vegetating Cicatricial Pemphigoid Intermittent Mucosal Pemphigoid Gingivitis
- Bullous Pemphigoid Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita Pemphigus Vulgaris}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 652:
- Pemphigoid, Benign Mucosal
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Benign Mucosal
- Pemphigoid) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing
- to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this
- article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
- MMP
- Cicatricial Pemphigoid
- CP
-
- Disorder Subdivisions:
-
- Localized Cicatricial Pemphigoid (Brunsting-Perry Syndrome)
- Vegetating Cicatricial Pemphigoid
-
- Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Intermittent Mucosal Pemphigoid
- Gingivitis
- Bullous Pemphigoid
- Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita
- Pemphigus Vulgaris
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
- Benign Mucosal Pemphigoid is a rare skin disease characterized by
- blisters on the mucous membranes (the thin moist layer lining the body's
- cavities). Mucous membranes of the mouth and the conjunctiva (the eyelids)
- are commonly affected areas.
-
- Symptoms
-
- The first presenting symptom of Benign Mucosal Pemphigoid usually is a red
- and blistered mouth.
-
- The eye is a commonly affected area and may be the only area affected.
- The eyes may become red and the conjunctiva inflamed. There may be
- conjunctival scarring with formation of tissue between the eyelid and eyeball
- (symblepharon).
-
- Occasionally, blisters may occur in the mucous membranes of the pharynx
- and esophagus (the continuous tube extending from in back of the nose to the
- stomach), nose, vulva (female's external genitalia), and urethra (the tube in
- which urine is released). Blisters infrequently occur on the skin.
-
- Affected areas frequently develop scarring. Particular antibodies
- (substances the body produces to fight invading organisms) such as IgA, IgG,
- and C3 may be found in affected areas.
-
- Benign Mucosal Pemphigoid usually has a long duration with frequent
- remissions and recurrence.
-
- DISORDER SUBDIVISIONS
- Researchers suggest that Benign Mucosal Pemphigoid may be divided into
- the following additional categories:
-
- Localized Cicatricial Pemphigoid or Brunsting-Perry Syndrome is a chronic
- scarring disease characterized by blisters usually occurring on the head and
- neck. The blisters may be due to trauma or other local factors.
-
- Vegetating Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid combines features of Benign Mucous
- Membrane Pemphigoid and Pemphigus Vegetans. Pemphigus Vegetans is a
- variation of Pemphigus Vulgaris (see Related Disorder section). It is
- characterized by large, fast-growing blisters that usually occur in the
- armpit and groin areas.
-
- Causes
-
- The exact cause of Benign Mucosal Pemphigoid is not known. It is thought to
- be an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune disorders are caused when the body's
- natural defenses (antibodies) against invading organisms suddenly begin to
- attack healthy tissue.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Benign Mucosal Pemphigoid usually affects middle-aged and elderly persons.
- However, cases affecting children and adolescents have been reported. Males
- and females are equally affected.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Benign Mucosal
- Pemphigoid. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Gingivitis may resemble the red, blistered mouth common to Benign Mucosal
- Membrane Pemphigoid. Gingivitis is a common condition characterized by red,
- swollen gums that bleed easily when subjected to pressure. It usually begins
- during puberty, persists throughout life with varying severity, and can be
- caused by poor oral hygiene. There usually is little to no discomfort but
- may progress slowly to periodontal disease. In Desquamative Gingivitis, the
- reddened skin peels off in the form of scales.
-
- Intermittent Mucosal Pemphigoid consists of blisters occurring in the
- mouth which are few, widely separated in time, and heal without scar
- formation.
-
- Bullous Pemphigoid is a chronic skin disease usually affecting the
- elderly. It is characterized by firm, large blisters that develop on normal-
- appearing or reddened skin usually around cuts or scars. Within weeks,
- blisters spread to skin of the flexor (muscles that contract or flex) areas,
- groin, armpit, and the abdomen. Mucous membranes seldom are affected and
- tend to heal quickly. The blisters have little tendency to spread, but heal
- quickly when they do. There is, however, severe irritation. Bullous
- Pemphigoid is considered to be an autoimmune disorder. (For more information
- on this disorder, choose "Bullous Pemphigoid" as your search term in the
- Rare Disease Database).
-
- Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita is an acquired skin disorder usually
- affecting the middle-aged and elderly. Injuries may cause blisters on the
- skin of extensor areas including elbows, knees, pelvis, buttocks, and
- sometimes the skull. Eyes may also be affected. The blisters tend to leave
- scars after healing. There usually is IgG activity around the blisters.
- Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita is thought to be an autoimmune disorder.
-
- Pemphigus Vulgaris is a form of Pemphigus. Blisters may start as
- isolated regions on the scalp, then in the mouth. The blisters may persist
- for several months before appearing in other mucous membranes such as the
- esophagus, nose, eyelids (conjunctiva), and rectum. The blisters are soft,
- break easily, and heal poorly. Pressure on the border of the blisters causes
- them to spread. Pressure on normal-looking skin can cause it to fall off
- (Nikolsky's sign) and to blister. Pemphigus Vulgaris is an autoimmune
- disorder that usually affects the middle-aged and elderly. (For more
- information on this disorder, choose "Pemphigus" as your search term in the
- Rare Disease Database).
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- The usual treatment of Benign Mucosal Pemphigoid is various drugs, either
- singly or in combinations.
-
- Corticosteroids drugs are commonly prescribed. Topical corticosteroids
- such as fluocinonide can relieve inflammation and itching. Systemic
- corticosteroids such as prednisone relieve inflammation and can suppress the
- immune system.
-
- Immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine may also
- be used to treat Benign Mucosal Pemphigoid. The antibiotic drug dapsone may
- also be used to relieve inflammation. All of these drugs must be carefully
- monitored by a dermatologist for side effects. Other treatment is
- symptomatic and supportive.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- The drug aldesulfonsodium is being investigated to treat childhood Benign
- Mucosal Pemphigoid.
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- April 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
- every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
- Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
- current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Benign Mucosal Pemphigoid, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
- Information Clearinghouse
- Box AMS
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 495-4484
-
- References
-
- INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown and
- Co., 1987. Pp. 1370.
-
- MUCOSAL INVOLVEMENT IN BULLOUS AND CICATRICIAL PEMPHIGOID. A CLINICAL
- AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY: V.A. Venning et al.; Br J Dermatol (January,
- 1988: issue 118(1)). Pp. 7-15.
-
- OCULAR CICATRICIAL PEMPHIGOID WITH GRANULAR IgG AND COMPLEMENT
- DEPOSITION: A.D. Proia et al.; Arch Ophthalmol (November, 1985: issue
- 103(11)). Pp. 1669-1672.
-
- IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY IN OCULAR CICATRICIAL PEMPHIGOID: B.J. Mondino
- and S.I. Brown; Am J Opthalmol (October, 1983: issue 96(4)). Pp. 453-459.
-
-