PEMPHIGOID Alina Tiraspolskaya #183 Jun Flores #130Joshua Cardwell #108 Jared Martin #147

Cicatricial Pemphigoid Chronic, autoimmune, subepidermal, blistering of the oral mucous membraneChronic, autoimmune, subepidermal, blistering of the oral mucous membrane Immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies specific for the hemidesmosomal antigensImmunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies specific for the hemidesmosomal antigens No racial predilection is apparentNo racial predilection is apparent Incidence of pemphigoid appears to be equal in men and womenIncidence of pemphigoid appears to be equal in men and women BP primarily affects elderly individuals in the fifth through seventh decades of life, with an average age at onset of 65 yearsBP primarily affects elderly individuals in the fifth through seventh decades of life, with an average age at onset of 65 years

Pathophysiology IgG autoantibodies bind to the basement membrane  complement and inflammatory mediators  inflammatory cells to the basement membrane  release proteases  degrade hemidesmosomal proteins  blister formation

Causes/Relevant factors: Immunogenetics –Increased of specific HLA  presentation of the target antigen by antigen-presenting cells in the initial development of the autoimmune response Age –Intrinsic changes in the immune system with aging are factors in the initiation of an autoimmune response Epitope spreading –Reports of bullous pemphigoid arising in patients with inflammatory skin diseases (psoriasis, lichen planus), or post- trauma (drug reactions)  inflammation exposes sequestered skin basement membrane proteins and antigens leading to the development of an autoimmune response Complement activation –Autoantibodies bind hemidesmosome/upper lamina lucida area of the skin basement membrane  complement activation  inflammatory cells release enzymes  blister formation. Chemokines –The histologic hallmark for bullous pemphigoid is the prominent eosinophil infiltration at the skin basement membrane area likely induced by chemokines

Pathogenesis (con’t) Involves the mucosa in 10-25% of patients Limited oral intake secondary to dysphagia Erosions secondary to rupture of the blisters, pain, functional limitations (palms, soles) Bullous pemphigoid can be fatal in debilitated patients, mostly due to sepsis and adverse effects to treatment Patients on high dose corticosteroids – increased risk for PUD, GI bleed, agranulocytosis, diabetes

Clinical Presentations The gingival epithelium is peeling off revealing a raw red connective tissue surface. In benign mucous membrane the basement membrane is destroyed allowing the epithelium to peel off. generalized bullous form is the most common presentation. vesicular form vegetative form generalized erythroderma form urticarial form nodular form acral form

Whitish area of gingiva represents broken blister, with surrounding hemorrhage Red inflamed gingiva is the typical clinical appearance of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. These raw surfaces were covered with bullae. Benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. Exposed connective tissue appear as red areas; epithelium about to slough appears as white areas

Bullae on external skin surfaces Conjunctival involvement can be severe, resulting in loss of hair, of the lid itself, bulbar conjunctivitis and scar formation Ulcer bed of huge buccal mucosa bulla

Diagnostic Tests With a blunt instrument (back of a mouth mirror), the investigator firmly places and pushes against the mucous membrane and twists. A positive Nikolsky sign presents as blister formation within a matter of minutes –Note: many other vesicular/bullous diseases have a positive nikolsky sign Positive Nikolsky Sign

Diagnostic Tests Continued Light microscopy and direct immunofluorescense are necessary to differentiate pemphigoid from other diseases with a positive Nikolsky sign The immunopathologic hallmark of pemphigoid is a linear deposition along the basement membrane as detected by direct immunofluorescense microscopy

Histopathology A separation of the epithelial and connective tissue layer at the level of the basement membrane Immunofluorescence reveals a linear striation of IgG and C3 at the level of the basement membrane (Chan and Cooper, 1994)

Histologic Appearance Subepithelial blister has intact overlying epithelium, without liquefactive degeneration (separation at the basement membrane) Immunofluorescence shows green line along the basement membrane of the epithelium (this shows the lineal IgG and C3 striations)

In this photomicrograph of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid the peeling away of the epithelium from connective tissue is obvious. This change results in what pathologists call "sub-basalar clefting."

Recent Histological Findings Recent research have suggested that there is an affinity of anti-bodies against BP180 antigen at the lamina lucida level. Calabresi et. al, 2007 Image from 2002 Br J Obstet Gynaecol 109 BP180 is a transmembrane complex involved in adhesion at the dermal- epidermal layer

Treatment Goal – decrease blister formation - promote healing of blisters and erosions - reduce inflammatory response and autoantibody production

Treatment (con’t) Medications -Anti-inflammatory agents – inhibit specific cytokine production and vascular permeability -Prednisone (1mg/kg/d) -Tetracycline (500mg qid) -Clobetasol – topical steroid (bid for up to 2 wk)

Treatment (con’t) -A recent article from Europe provided evidence that strong topical corticosteriods can achieve disease control while avoiding systemic adverse effects from systemic corticosteroids -Immunosuppressive agents – if anti- inflammatory agents cause no response -Azathioprine (1mg/kg/d bid, increase by 0.5mg/kg q4wk until response, do not exceed 2.5mg/kg/d)

Treatment (con’t) -For patients treated with systemic corticosteroid for longer than 1 month, a combined supplement of calcium and vitamin D should be instituted to prevent osteoporosis.  -In addition to calcium and vitamin D supplementation, patients on long-term treatment with systemic corticosteroids should be taking bisphosphonate, a specific inhibitor for osteoclast-mediated bone resorption (eg, alendronate).

Before After The remaining images are of the same patient. Here the mucous membrane inside the lower lip shows the red and white desquamative areas so typical of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. Within a week after starting systemic corticosteroid therapy, the patient showed significant improvement. Here the lesion on lip mucosa have resolved completely. In the same patient, the raw and sloughing process has affected the buccal mucosa. The improvement in the buccal mucous lesion after corticosteroid therapy is remarkable.

References Calabresi V, Carrozzo M, Cozzani E, Arduino P, Bertolusso G, Tirone F, Parodi A, Zambruno G, Di Zenzo G. Oral pemphigoid autoantibodies preferentially target BP180 ectodomain. Clin Immunol Feb;122(2): Epub 2006 Dec 1.Calabresi V, Carrozzo M, Cozzani E, Arduino P, Bertolusso G, Tirone F, Parodi A, Zambruno G, Di Zenzo G. Chan LS, Cooper. A novel immune-mediated subepidermal bullous dermatosis characterized by IgG autoantibodies to a lower lamina lucida component. Arch Dermatol Mar;130(3):343-7.Chan LS, Cooper Chan LS, Yancey KB, Hammerberg C. Immune-mediated subepithelial blistering diseases of mucous membranes. Arch Dermatol Apr; 129(4): Chan LS, Yancey KB, Hammerberg C. Sapp, J.P., Eversole, L.R., Wysocki, G.P. Contemproary Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Mosby 2004, p

2 m/c Test Questions 1)What is the immunoflorescence pattern for pemphigoid ALinear IgA and C3 BLinear IgG and C3 CFishnet patter of C3 DFishnet patter of IgA EShaggy pattern ANS: B 2)Which one is true? ABP tends to occur in men more than in women BBP is one of few bullous diseases negative for Nikolsky sign CAnti-inflammatory agents inhibit specific cytokine production and increase vascular permeability DComplement activation is an important factor in BP pathogenesis EBP frequently involves mucous membranes ANS: D