The relationship between bullous pemphigoid and renal disease and related treatments: a review of the current literature.

INTRODUCTION: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disorder in older adults. There is increasing evidence that BP has connections with renal diseases, such as glomerulopathy and neoplasm; it is also linked to the receipt of renal replacement therapy. AREAS COVERED: In this review, we summarize the current evidence that BP is a comorbidity of common renal diseases. Furthermore, our exploration of the characteristics and possible mechanisms underlying these connections provides insights that may facilitate the prevention, diagnosis, and management of BP. EXPERT OPINION: There is mounting proof that BP is not just a skin immunological disorder but rather a systemic immune-mediated illness. Quantities of case reports focused on BP as a renal disease comorbidity and the coexistence of them is not accidental. However, the underlying mechanisms are still needed to be investigated. Clinicians should be alert to the comorbidities in order to facilitate effective treatment and improve patient prognosis.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Patients with Autoimmune Bullous Dermatoses: A Cohort Study Analysis of a Rare Disease Group.

INTRODUCTION: Autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBD) are a heterogeneous group of rare autoantibody-mediated blistering dermatoses of the skin and/or mucous membranes. Their incidence is around 20 new cases per million inhabitants per year in Germany. Patients with chronic, oncological, or rare diseases often urge for a holistic therapeutic approach that includes complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). So far, only few contradictory reports on CAM in pemphigoid or pemphigus disease exist. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency, motives, and satisfaction with the use of alternative treatments in patients with AIBD and to provide a basis for further investigation. METHODS: We used a structured online questionnaire, consisting of 20 questions to survey patients with AIBD and their relatives. The German pemphigus and pemphigoid self-help groups were responsible for distributing anonymized questionnaires. In total, we recovered 97 questionnaires, 63 of which met full inclusion criteria (24 males and 39 females). RESULTS: Of the included participants, more than half had a currently active disease. Of all patients, 58.7% stated that they had used CAM at least once. Women were more likely to use CAM, whereas age and education showed no association to CAM use. The main motives for using CAM were "doing something for oneself" and "opportunity to contribute to treatment" (38.1% each). The internet (23.8%) was the most common source of information, and vitamins were the most frequently used therapy (49.2%). CONCLUSION: Our results provide new insights into the demand for CAM within this rare disease patient group. Physicians should be aware of these methods to meet patient needs but also be able to identify potential barriers such as risks and interactions.

Characterization of the skin microbiota in bullous pemphigoid patients and controls reveals novel microbial indicators of disease.

INTRODUCTION: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune blistering disease. It predominately afflicts the elderly and is significantly associated with increased mortality. The observation of age-dependent changes in the skin microbiota as well as its involvement in other inflammatory skin disorders suggests that skin microbiota may play a role in the emergence of BP blistering. We hypothesize that changes in microbial diversity associated with BP might occur before the emergence of disease lesions, and thus could represent an early indicator of blistering risk. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to investigate potential relationships between skin microbiota and BP and elaborate on important changes in microbial diversity associated with blistering in BP. METHODS: The study consisted of an extensive sampling effort of the skin microbiota in patients with BP and age- and sex-matched controls to analyze whether intra-individual, body site, and/or geographical variation correlate with changes in skin microbial composition in BP and/or blistering status. RESULTS: We find significant differences in the skin microbiota of patients with BP compared to that of controls, and moreover that disease status rather than skin biogeography (body site) governs skin microbiota composition in patients with BP. Our data reveal a discernible transition between normal skin and the skin surrounding BP lesions, which is characterized by a loss of protective microbiota and an increase in sequences matching Staphylococcus aureus, a known inflammation-promoting species. Notably, Staphylococcus aureus is ubiquitously associated with BP disease status, regardless of the presence of blisters. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests Staphylococcus aureus may be a key taxon associated with BP disease status. Importantly, we however find contrasting patterns in the relative abundances of Staphylococcus hominis and Staphylococcus aureus reliably discriminate between patients with BP and matched controls. This may serve as valuable information for assessing blistering risk and treatment outcomes in a clinical setting.

Therapeutic plasma exchange as adjunct therapy for bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmune blistering disease caused by pathogenic antibodies which deposit into the dermo-epidermal junction. We present a case of bullous pemphigoid in a young female refractory to initial therapy with immunosuppressives and steroids who experienced significant improvement in blister burden after a course of adjunct therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). This case report provides valuable insight into the benefit of utilizing TPE for BP and provides treatment specifics regarding use of TPE in a patient with BP.

Plasmapheresis: a feasible choice for bullous pemphigoid patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) patients were vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection because they have similar risk factors, so we should pay attention to patients with BP during the epidemic of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). As far as treatment is concerned, many strategies for BP were changed during the epidemic. Plasmapheresis not only has been included in the guidelines for BP but also has been used successfully to rescue COVID-19 patients, especially in severe cases. Therefore, it is a feasible choice for BP patients, especially for refractory BP patients, infected with SARS-CoV-2. Apart from these, we have reviewed some points for attention during the plasmapheresis session.

Emerging Biomarkers and Therapeutic Strategies for Refractory Bullous Pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disorder in the elderly. Systemic and topical use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants has been shown to be effective in most patients. However, refractory BP patients are challenged to clinicians with severe clinical symptoms, resistance to treatment, and high relapse rate. How to predict and assess the refractory and severity of bullous pemphigoid is the key issue in clinical practice, and the urgent need for precision medicine in refractory patients is driving the search for biomarkers and biologics. Recently, some biomarkers, such as the level of specific autoantibodies and released cytokines, have been proposed as the potential parameters to reflect the disease severity and predict the treatment response and relapse of refractory BP. Moreover, new biologics targeting pathogenic antibodies, complement, Th2 axis, eosinophils, and Th17 axis have shown potent efficacy on refractory BP. Here, we review the literature and give an overview of emerging biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for refractory bullous pemphigoid to improve the prognosis of the patient.

Penfigoide ampollar por teneligliptina / Teneligliptin-induced bullous pemphigoid

El Penfigoide Ampollar por fármacos es una variedad de penfigoide ampollar en la que un medicamento actúa como causa o desencadenante de la enfermedad. Clínicamente se manifiesta como ampollas tensas de contenido seroso localizadas fundamentalmente en abdomen, miembros superiores y raíz de muslos. El estudio histopatológico evidencia ampollas subepidérmicas e infiltrado dérmico mixto con eosinófilos. La inmunofluorescencia directa de piel sana perilesional muestra depósitos lineales de IgG y/o C3. Sin embargo, en hasta 15% de los casos puede ser negativa. Los pacientes diabéticos que reciben tratamiento con fármacos del grupo de los inhibidores de la dipeptidilpeptidasa 4, también conocidos como gliptinas, tienen 3 veces más riesgo de desarrollar esta patología. El tiempo de latencia entre el inicio de la medicación y la aparición de los síntomas es variable, con una media de 10 meses. El tratamiento radica en la suspensión inmediata del fármaco causal y la administración de prednisona oral 0,5 mg/kg/día. El tiempo medio de respuesta es de 10 días. Se presenta un varón de 82 años con una dermatosis ampollar pruriginosa de 3 semanas de evolución posterior al inicio de teneligliptina, cuyo estudio histopatológico fue característico de penfigoide ampollar, y que evolucionó satisfactoriamente al suspender el hipoglucemiante oral, sin aparición de nuevas lesiones a más de un año de seguimiento clínico

Drug-induced bullous pemphigoid is a variety of bullous pemphigoid in which a drug is the cause of the disease. It manifests as serous tense blisters located mainly on the abdomen, upper limbs and root of the tights. The histopathology shows subepidermal bullae and mixed dermal infiltrate with eosinophils. Direct immunofluorescence of healthy perilesional skin shows linear IgG and/or C3 deposits. However, it can be negative in up to 15% of the cases. Diabetic patients receiving dipeptidylpeptidase 4 inhibitors have a 3 times increased risk of developing drug-induced bullous pemphigoid. The mean time between the beginning of the medication and the appearance of the dermatosis is 10 months. Immediate suspension of the offending drug and administration of prednisone 0,5 mg/kg/day is the standard treatment. Average response time is 10 days. We present an 82-year-old-man with a 3-week itchy bullous dermatosis that started 8 months after treatment with teneligliptin, whose histopathological study resembled bullous pemphigoid, and which evolved satisfactorily when the drug was discontinued. No new lesions have been detected after more than one year of clinical follow-up. Key words: bullous pemphigoid, drug-induced bullous pemphigoid, gliptins, teneligliptin, dipeptidylpeptidase 4 inhibitors

Non-Bullous Pemphigoid: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune disease that typically presents with blisters, but sometimes early lesions may be eczematous, maculopapular, or urticarial. The aim of the present study was to highlight possible differences between typical bullous and non-bullous pemphigoid (NBP) and compare results with the literature. Material & methods: Patients receiving a diagnosis of BP between January 2000 and December 2019 were analyzed. Patients who developed a blister after 3 months from the onset of pruritus were considered as NBP. Demographic features, clinical findings at diagnosis and at 2-year follow-up, histological features, auto-antibodies titers, comorbidities and their treatment were retrieved. Categorical variables were evaluated for normal distribution using a histogram and a Q-Q plot. The χ2 and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare categorical variables between the groups. Continuous variables were compared between the groups using analysis of variance and the independent-samples t test. For multivariate analysis, logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: A total of 532 patients received a diagnosis of BP. A total of 122 patients were enrolled in the study; 63 were females, and the mean age at the diagnosis was 77.2 years (±11.9 SD). 98 were affected by BP and 24 were categorized as NBP. Mean time to diagnosis was 2.9 months (±5.8 SD) for BP and 30.4 months (±59.8 SD) for NBP (p = 0.0001). Skin manifestations in NBP patients were, in order of frequency: urticarial, papular or nodular, eczematous, and excoriations. Pruritus intensity was high but similar in the two groups (Numerical Rating Scale - NRS, 9.3 vs. 8.9). Seven out of 24 NBP patients (29%) never developed blisters; the other patients developed blisters after a mean follow-up time of 24.9 months (±54.9 SD). NBP patients had a more frequent history of myocardial infarction than BP patients (37.5 vs. 10.2%; p < 0.003). More NBP patients were taking diuretics than BP patients (66.7 vs. 49%; p = 0.03). NBP patients had a worse response to pruritus compared to BP patients at 2 years (NRS 3.7 vs. 11; p 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: NBP patients have a delayed diagnosis and may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, especially myocardial infarction. Severely and persistently itchy skin disorders in aged patients should be investigated for BP diagnosis.

Gaze vaselinada para prevenção de lesões por pressão em pessoas com dermatoses imunobolhosas / Vaseline gauze for prevention of pressure injuries in people with immunobullous dermatoses / Gasa con vaselina para la prevención de lesiones por presión en personas con dermatosis inmunobulosa

Objetivo: avaliar a mobilidade do cliente com dermatose imunobolhosa antes e após aplicação do curativo com gaze vaselinada. Método: estudo quase experimental, interinstitucional, com clientes com dermatoses imunobolhosas hospitalizados em um hospital estadual e um hospital federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro e uma instituição do Mato Grosso do Sul. Utilizou-se a lógica fuzzy para classificar a mobilidade dos sujeitos antes, 24 horas após e uma semana após aplicação do curativo. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultados: Incluídos 14 participantes, sendo nove com pênfigo vulgar, dois com pênfigo foliáceo e três com penfigóide bolhoso, entre 27 e 82 anos, predominando 11 mulheres. Após 24 horas, nenhum participante se considerou com baixa mobilidade, sete passaram a mobilidade média, e sete, alta, o que foi mantido uma semana após aplicação do curativo. Conclusão: constatou-se significativo aumento da mobilidade logo nas primeiras 24 horas após aplicação do curativo.

Objective: to assess the mobility of clients with immunobullous dermatoses, before and after applying vaseline gauze dressings. Method: in this quasi-experimental, interinstitutional study of inpatients with immunobullous dermatoses at a state hospital and a federal hospital in Rio de Janeiro State and an institution in Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil), patient mobility before, 24 hours after, and one week after applying the dressing was classified using fuzzy logic. The study was approved by the research ethics committee. Results: 14 participants, nine with pemphigus vulgaris, two with pemphigus foliaceus, and three with bullous pemphigoid, aged between 27 and 82 years old, and predominantly (11) women. After 24 hours, none of the participants considered their mobility to be poor, seven began to be moderately mobile, and seven were highly mobile, and continued so one week after applying the dressing. Conclusion: mobility increased significant in the first 24 hours after applying the dressing.

Objetivo: evaluar la movilidad de clientes con dermatosis inmunobullosa, antes y después de la aplicación de apósitos de gasa con vaselina. Método: en este estudio cuasi-experimental, interinstitucional de pacientes hospitalizados con dermatosis inmunobullosa en un hospital estatal y un hospital federal en el estado de Río de Janeiro y una institución en Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil), la movilidad del paciente antes, 24 horas después y una semana después la aplicación del apósito se clasificó mediante lógica difusa. El estudio fue aprobado por el comité de ética en investigación. Resultados: se incluyeron 14 participantes, nueve con pénfigo vulgar, dos con pénfigo foliáceo y tres con penfigoide ampolloso, con edades comprendidas entre 27 y 82 años, y predominantemente mujeres (n=11). Después de 24 horas, ninguno de los participantes consideró que su movilidad fuera pobre, siete comenzaron a ser moderadamente móviles y siete eran altamente móviles, y así continuaron una semana después de la aplicación del apósito. Conclusión: la movilidad aumentó significativamente en las primeras 24 horas después de la aplicación del apósitoconsideraba con baja movilidad, siete comenzaron a tener movilidad media y siete, alta, que se mantuvo una semana después de aplicar el apósito. Conclusión: hubo un aumento significativo en la movilidad en las primeras 24 horas después de aplicar el apósito.

Serum Levels of Interleukin 18 and Interleukin 10 in Iranian Patients with Bullous Pemphigoid and Their Correlation with BP180-NC16a and BP230.

No Abstract.

Safety and efficacy of plasma exchange via direct femoral vein puncture in autoimmune blistering diseases.

Plasma exchange (PE) is performed for patients with autoimmune blistering diseases by using multiple vascular access routes. We retrospectively examined the safety and the efficacy of PE using direct femoral vein puncture (FVP) technique, by comparing with that using double-lumen catheter (DLC). The troubles related to vascular route, such as catheter occlusion, insufficient blood flow and hematoma, were not different between the FVP group (4.6%) and the DLC group (6.7%), whereas access-related infections occurred more frequently in the DLC group (6.7%) than the FVP group (0.4%). Regarding the efficacy, the removal rate of autoantibodies in PE using the FVP technique was similar or lower, as compared with that using the DLC. These results suggest that PE with the FVP technique is able to be performed safely in patients with autoimmune blistering diseases, although the removal of autoantibodies is not superior to that using the DLC.