Pemphigus, pregnancy, and plasmapheresis

Sherry Shieh, Yisheng V. Fang, Joanne L. Becker, Allison Holm, Ernest H. Beutner, Thomas N. Helm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disorder that usually occurs in the fifth and sixth decades of life but may occur at younger ages and during pregnancy. Circulating intercellular antibodies directed at desmosomal proteins may cross the placenta and place children at risk for neonatal pemphigus (NP). We describe the case of a pregnant woman with PV treated successfully with a combination of systemic corticosteroids and plasmapheresis. The possibility of PV should be considered in any pregnant woman with a worsening, widespread, mucocutaneous, blistering disease. Plasmapheresis offers a useful alternative to immunosuppressive therapy in the setting of pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)327-329
Number of pages3
JournalCutis
Volume73
Issue number5
StatePublished - May 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology

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