RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a vesiculobullous, autoimmune disease that occurs primarily in older women. The objective of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of the intraoral clinical signs, symptoms and diagnostic findings of MMP. STUDY DESIGN: The charts of 729 patients in a university-based dental referral practice were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 729 patients, a clinical diagnosis of MMP was rendered in 29 cases. Of these cases, 93 percent had only oral lesions at the time of presentation, whereas 7 percent had lesions at other sites in addition to the oral cavity. Sixty-eight percent were female and 83 percent of the patients were over 50 years at onset. Common sites of involvement were gingiva and buccal mucosa. Sixty-three percent exhibited erosive or ulcerative lesions. Thirty-five percent showed clinical evidence of epithelial separation. Eighty-eight percent of biopsied patients had histopathologic findings consistent with MMP. Seventy-seven percent of patients exhibited IgG and C3 in the basement membrane region, consistent with pemphigoid. Eighty-two percent of the 29 patients who had two or more lesions were treated with topical corticosteroids. CONCLUSIONS: The intraoral sites most commonly affected by MMP are the gingiva and buccal mucosa. Routine histopathologic evaluation is an effective diagnostic tool when used in conjunction with direct immunofluorescence.