Alport Syndrome and Oral Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid: An Interesting Case.

Alport syndrome (AS) is a hereditary progressive glomerular disease associated with sensorineural hearing loss and ocular abnormalities. It is attributed to the altered structure and the subsequent dysfunction of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) due to the mutated type IV collagen a3/a4/a5 chains. It may emerge either as an X-linked disease, the most common, or as an autosomal disease, both recessive and dominant. A female patient, 26 years old, came in 2023 to the Department of Oral Medicine/ Pathology, Dental School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, complaining about pain and a burning sensation in her right cheek. Her medical history revealed the diagnosis of Alport syndrome in 2016 and kidney transplantation in 2022 with extensive post-transplantation drug administration. The clinical examination revealed an ulcer, partially covered by a pseudomembrane, on the oral mucosa of the right cheek, surrounded by an erythematous border. A biopsy was taken, and the histopathological examination showed the oral manifestation of mucous membrane pemphigoid. After communicating with the attending nephrologist, the prescription of methylprednisolone was decided, and the lesions receded. The differential diagnosis included both AS-induced pemphigoid and drug-induced pemphigoid. The thorough medical history, detailed clinical investigation, lesion biopsy, and collaboration of different dental and medical specialties constitute necessary prerequisites for a successful treatment, even in immunosuppressed patients.

The potential role of microorganisms in the development of rosacea.

Rosacea is a chronic cutaneous disorder characterized by centrofacial persisting erythema, telangiectases, papules, pustules, edema, phymas and ocular involvement. Despite being one of the most common skin disorders, its pathogenesis remains unclear and controversial. Although the disease triggering factors are well recognized, the underlying causes of rosacea have not yet been identified. Several different postulates about its pathogenesis can be found in the medical literature. Abnormalities of the pilosebaceous unit, as well as genetic, vascular, inflammatory, environmental and microbial factors have been described. The microorganisms that have been associated include Helicobacter pylori, Demodex folliculorum, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Chlamydia pneumonia; all the studies have been inconclusive. We review currently available scientific data on the potential pathogenetic role of microorganisms in the development of rosacea.