Bullous Pemphigoid Induced by Doxycycline: Case Report and Literature Review

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most prevalent autoimmune sub-epidermal blistering disease that affects mainly the elderly and could lead to serious morbidity. It has numerous risk factors and triggers, including an aging population with several comorbidities and drug exposure. In the published paper, we reported a case about a 32 years old male patient with unknown medical conditions who presented with erythematous patches and plaques on the scalp, face, and trunk with scattered blisters two weeks after initiating doxycycline treatment for folliculitis. The exact pathogenesis of the drug-reaction in drug- associated bullous pemphigoid (DABP) remains controversial. In conclusion, it is crucial for clinicians to be aware of DABP when prescribing doxycycline. The purpose of this case report is to raise awareness of the possible association between bullous pemphigoid and doxycycline.

Bullous pemphigoid associated with acquired hemophilia A: A case report

BACKGROUND Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare and potentially severe bleeding disordercaused by circulating autoantibodies against factor Ⅷ (FⅧ). In approximately50% of the patients, the condition is associated with autoimmune diseases,cancers, medication use, pregnancy, and the post-partum period. Bullous pemphigoid(BP) is a chronic autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease associatedwith tissue-bound and circulating autoantibodies against BP antigens 180 (BP180)and 230 (BP230). AHA-associated BP has a high mortality rate;hence, the understandingof this disease must improve.CASE SUMMARY A 69-year-old man presented with erythema, blisters, blood blisters, and crustsaccompanied by severe pruritus for more than 20 days, and ecchymosis andswelling on his left upper arm for 3 days. Pathological examination revealed asubepidermal blister that contained eosinophils. Laboratory tests showed that theBP180 autoantibody levels had increased, isolated activated partial thromboplastintime was notably prolonged (115.6 s), and coagulation FⅧ activity wasextremely low (< 1.0%). Furthermore, the FⅧ inhibitor titer had greatlyincreased (59.2 Bethesda units). Therefore, the patient was diagnosed as having BP associated with AHA, prescribed 0.05% topical halometasone cream, and transferred to a higher-level hospitalfor effective treatment;however, he died after 2 days.CONCLUSION AHA associated BP is rare, dangerous, and has a high mortality rate. Therefore, its timely diagnosis and effectivetreatment are necessary.

Rituximab Therapy for Persistent, Severe and Extensive Idiopathic Bullous Pemphigoid

Background: Idiopathic Bullous Pemphigoid (IBP) is a rare blistering autoimmune disease. Its morbidity and mortality have remained high owing to complications of extensive skin involvement as well as its conventional steroid therapy. We reviewed the medical literature and found indicators of an autoimmune etiology for its pathogenesis triggering genetically predisposed patients. Objective: to evaluate, prospectively, the role of Rituximab (R) therapy in its persistent, severe and extensive form. Patients and methods: A total of 12 patients, with disease duration of 6 ± 1 months, were treated with yearly R infusions (1 g followed by 1 g 2 weeks later). Results: Significant clinical improvement was achieved as documented by decrease in total score of Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index from 60 ± 3 to 6 ± 2 that persisted for 26 ± 11 months of follow up. Moreover, IBP autoantibodies (anti-BP 180 and anti-320 IgG) levels fell from to 91 ± 3 and 81 ± 2 to 8 ± 2 and 9 ± 2, respectively. Conclusions: R is a safe and effective treatment for severe IBP and such response further confirms its autoimmune pathogenesis.

Urticarial Bullous Pemphigoid: A New Case Report

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune bullous disease and it primarily affects the elderly population. It typically presents with tense bullae and severe pruritus. Non-bullous pemphigoid is a subtype of BP characterized by lacking the typical bullae formation with different presentations including erythematous, eczematous, urticarial, polycyclic, targetoid, nodular, lichenoid, vesicular and erythrodermic. Aim: to document a new case presentation of urticarial BP who was treated for several years as chronic urticarial and chronic eczema. Case Report: A 56-year-old male patient presented with a history of recurrent severely pruritic urticarial wheals for 4 years duration involving the lower abdomen, lower back, upper and lower extremities associated with excoriations, keratosis, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentations on resolved sites, diagnosed as urticarial BP on histopathology & direct immunofluorescence study (DIF) and was improved on systemic doxycycline therapy. Conclusion: BP can be presented with atypical manifestation. Urticarial BP is a rare variant of non-bullous pemphigoid that should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of an atypical urticarial wheal not responding to conventional therapy.

Topical use of ozone effectively alleviates the acute symptoms and quality of life of patients with moderate to severe bullous pemphigoid: a randomized controlled trial

Objective:To evaluate the adjuvant treatment of acute stage symptoms and quality of life of patients with bullous pemphigoid(BP)with ozone.Methods:We included 74 patients with moderate and severe BP hospitalized from July 2018 to December 2020.The participants were randomly divided into the control group and the ozone group,with 37 patients in each group(n=37).The control group used tap water to wash the whole body,and mupirocin ointment was used for the erosions.The ozone group used ozone water to wash the whole body,and the erosion place was coated with ozone oil.The bullous pemphigoid disease area index(BPDAI)score of BP disease was used to observe the clinical symptoms and skin lesions of the two groups before and on day 3,7,and 14 after treatment.Pruritus and sleep were observed before and on day 3,7,and 14 after treatment.The Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI)was used to observe the quality of life before and after treatment and the adverse reactions were recorded.Results:The total BPDAI score and erythema score in the ozone group were significantly different from those in the control group on day 3,7,and 14 after treatment(P<0.050).The scab drying time and erosion drying time of ozone group were shorter than that of control group(P<0.001).There were statistically significant differences between the ozone group and the control group in pruritus score and sleep score on day 3,7,and 14 after treatment(P<0.001).There was statistically significant difference in skin disease quality of life between the two groups 14 days after treatment(P<0.001).No significant adverse reactions and complications were observed in both groups.Conclusions:Ozone external use can rapidly improve the acute stage of edema erythema,erosion,and itching of BP,improve the quality of life of patients,is an effective treatment method,and wor thy of clinical promotion.

Rare bullous pemphigoid during PD-1 inhibitor therapy:a case report

Immunotherapy is an important treatment modality in cancer,but it can also cause adverse reactions,with skin toxicity being the most common.The increasing number of immune checkpoint inhibitors being used in the clinic will inevitably cause an increase in the rate of adverse skin reactions that markedly affect the patient's quality of life.A 58-year-old patient with intrahepatic cholangiocareinoma developed bullous pemphigoid(BP)nearly a year after using immune checkpoint inhibitors,which is different from what has been reported inthe literature within two weeks of treatment.Pathologically,the skin biopsy diagnosis was epidermal hyperplasia and focal sub-epidermal pustule formation,consistent with drug-induced dermatitis.The patient was treated with methylprednisolone,minocyeline,colchicine,nicotinamide,triamcinolone,and traditional Chinese medicine decoction.No new blisters developed after 1 week of treatment.The medication was gradually discontinued,and BP did not recur.Clinicians should carefully consider the risk-benefit ratio when using PD-1 inhibitors,particularly concerning rash severity.Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between adverse skin reactions and drug efficacy.

Preliminary Application of High-Frequency Ultrasound in the Differentiation of Pemphigus and Bullous Pemphigoid:An Observational Study

Objective:Ultrasonography is a diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize subcutaneous body structures for identification of possible pathologies.In this study,we aimed to explore the clinical significance of high-frequency ultrasound in differentiating the location of blisters between pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid.Methods:Eighteen patients were recruited in Department of Dermatology,Zhongda Hospital from 2020 to 2021 and divided into a pemphigus group(n=8)and a bullous pemphigoid group(n=10)according to the diagnostic criteria for each.Ultrasonographic images were collected using a 50-MHz high-frequency ultrasound system.The indexes of ultrasonic evaluation were the layer(epidermis or dermis),size,shape,internal echo,and boundary of the blister.Categorical variables are expressed as n(%),and differences were compared using Fisher’s exact test.Results:The ultrasonographic images in the pemphigus group showed an intraepidermal semi-arc or irregular anechoic or hypoechoic areas.The inferior borders were situated above the characteristic thin linear hyperechoic bands of the epidermis.A linear hypoechoic band was present at the dermoepidermal junction in some cases.In the ultrasonographic images of the bullous pemphigoid group,the linear hyperechoic bands of the epidermis were continuous and intact.An oval fluid anechoic area(subepidermal blister)was present immediately below the bands.The location of the blisters in the ultrasonographic images was significantly different between the 2 groups(P<0.001).Conclusion:High-frequency ultrasound can be used as an auxiliary means to differentiate the location of blisters between pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous Pemphigoid With Nail Damage Associated With Kaposi Sarcoma:A Case Report

Introduction:Bullous pemphigoid is an acquired autoimmune bullous skin disease that occurs in the elderly,and nail involvement is relatively rare.Kaposi sarcoma(KS) is a rare opportunistic tumor in patients with iatrogenic immunosuppression and is rarely associated with autoimmune bullotic disease.Case presentation:The patient was diagnosed with bullous pemphigoid based on her history,bullous pemphigoid antibody,and skin pathological examination.And nail involvement occurred 20 days prior to the recurrence of the disease.Moreover,KS occurred during high-dose glucocorticoid therapy in this patient.Discussion:The patient was admitted to hospital because of a five-month history of erythema and blisters and a one-month history of nodules and plaques.The diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid was followed by treatment with glucocorticoids and intravenous gamma globulin.During treatment,the disease recurred due to discontinuation of glucocorticoids.There were erythema and blisters all over the body,and purple nodules,plaques appeared in the base of some blisters.Pathological examination of nodules was consistent with KS.In addition,nail involvement occurred 20 days before recurrence.The particularity of this case lies in the simultaneous occurrence of nail involvement,bullous pemphigoid,and KS.Conclusion:Patients with autoimmune bullous skin disease may suddenly develop abnormal nails,and such patients should be vigilant about recurrence of the disease.Doctors should be aware of the possibility of KS when rapidly progressing purplish red plaques or nodules appear in patients receiving high doses of corticosteroids or immunosuppressants.

Identification of human herpesvirus-8 in Kaposi＆#39;s sarcoma with bullous pemphigoid

Kaposi＆#39;s sarcoma （KS） is a rare,malignant vascular.tumor of the skin,mucosa,and viscera with an increased incidence in human immunodeficiency virus （HIV）-positive patients.According to the clinical characteristics and the affected population,four clinical types of KS have been described successively：classic,endemic to Africa,acquired immunodeficiency syndrome （AIDS）-associated,and immunosuppression associated type.Bullous pemphigoid （BP） is an acquired autoimmune bullous skin disease that frequently occurs in the elderly and is characterized by intraepidermal blisters and immunoglobulin G （IgG） deposits on the basement membrane.A few cases of KS have occurred in immunosuppressed patients with BP.Here,we report a Chinese female patient diagnosed with immunosuppression associated KS that was induced by the short-term use of immunosuppressive agents for BP.We also present a review of the literature on immunosuppressed KS with BP and discuss the potential role of human herpesvirus-8 （HHV-8） in the pathogenic mechanism.

Nivolumab-induced severe bullous pemphigoid in a patient with renal cancer:a case report and literature review

With the widespread use of immunotherapy in numerous solid tumours,immunotherapy-related adverse events(irAEs)have started to emerge and bring new challenges for clinicians to manage.Among established irAEs,dermatologic toxicity is one of the most common toxicities;it is often mild but can be severe and potentially life-threatening,such as bullous pemphigoid.Here,we report a case of nivolumab-mediated severe,extensive,refractory bullous pemphigoid involving both skin and oral mucosa in a patient with metastatic renal cancer.We also summarise a list of selected case reports of immunotherapy-induced bullous pemphigoid by literature review.We highlight various presentations,investigations and managements of this type of skin irAEs.Meantime,we would like to discuss the correlation of skin irAEs incidence rate with immunotherapy drug benefit and resistance.

Characteristics and Risk Factors of Infections among Patients with Autoimmune Bullous Diseases: A Retrospective Single-Center Study in China

Background: Since infections can lead to adverse outcomes in autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBD), this study aimed to analyze infection characteristics in AIBD, predict infection risk factors and provide probable suggestions to infection prevention, which will spot a light on early discovery and prevention of infections in AIBD patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study of the medical records of inpatients diagnosed with AIBD at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Dermatology, Huashan Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021. We collected patients’ clinical manifestations and laboratory examination results. Risk factors for infections were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 263 AIBD patients were included in the study. The overall incidence of infection was 42.2% (111/263). Pemphigus had a higher infection rate (74/142, 52.1%) than bullous pemphigoid (37/121, 30.6%). Among the patients with infections, 49.5% (55/111) had bacterial infections, 13.5% (15/111) had fungal infections, 2.7% (3/111) had virus infections, and 34.2% (38/111) had mixed infections. Staphylococcus aureus and Candida were the most common pathogens in localized infections, while Cryptococcus and Candida were predominant in systemic infections. In the multivariate logistic model, pemphigus (odds ratio [OR] = 2.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41-4.63), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 3.78, 95% CI 1.68-8.50), and systemic glucocorticoid treatment (OR = 4.67, 95% CI 2.51-8.68) were independent risk factors for infection in AIBD patients. Bullous pemphigoid (OR = 3.99, 95% CI 1.03-15.45), high-dose (average > 24 mg/day) compared to low-dose (average ≤ 6 mg/day) and medium-dose (average 6-24 mg/day) systemic glucocorticoid treatment (OR = 19.31, 95% CI 3.32-112.28, and OR = 5.71, 95% CI 1.37-23.79) were associated with increased risk factors of systemic infection in AIBD patients with systemic glucocorticoid treatment. A methylprednisolone dose averaging 14 mg/day over the past three months had a 75.0% positive predictive value for infections in AIBD patients. Conclusions: The incidence of infection in AIBD patients is high, with a broad spectrum of pathogens and infection locations. AIBD patients undergoing systemic glucocorticoid treatment, especially those receiving high doses in the previous three months, should be cautious about infection.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor-induced autoimmune diseases:Current evidence

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors(DPP-4i)have an important place in the management of type 2 diabetes.The DPP-4 enzyme is ubiquitously distributed throughout the human body and has multiple substrates through which it regulates several important physiological functions.DPP-4 regulates several immune functions,including T-cell activation,macrophage function,and secretion of cytokines.Studies have reported an increase in autoimmune diseases like bullous pemphigoid,inflammatory bowel disease,and arthritis with DPP-4i use.The relationship of DPP-4i and autoimmune diseases is a complex one and warrants further research into the effect of DPP-4 inhibition on the immune system to understand the pathogenesis more clearly.Whether a particular cluster of autoimmune diseases is associated with DPP-4i use remains an important contentious issue.Nevertheless,a heightened awareness from the clinicians is required to identify and treat any such diseases.Through this review,we explore the clinical and pathophysiological characteristics of this association in light of recent evidence.

A Case Report of Pemphigoid Nodularis as Masquerader of Neurotic Excoriations

Introduction:Pemphigoid nodularis is a rare clinical variant of bullous pemphigoid characterized by both prurigo nodularis-like lesions and pemphigoid-like blisters.Case presentation:A 72-year-old Chinese man has been on follow-up at an outpatient Dermatology unit for extensive prurigo nodularis for past 4 to 5 years until an inpatient stay when he was admitted for labile mood and erratic behavior due to the intense pruritus and skin lesions.During the admission,the inpatient team noticed tense hemorrhagic blisters on his right thigh for which histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.He was treated with oral prednisolone,doxycycline,and nicotinamide,which led to clinical improvement.Discussion:Pemphigoid nodularis can be easily misdiagnosed as prurigo nodularis.We discuss clinical clues that can raise the suspicion of an underlying immunobullous disorder,including erythematous nodules with a much larger surface area affected by central erosions and ulceration.Pruritus associated with larger areas of erosions and ulceration is clues that lesions can be more than mere excoriations.Conclusion:It is important for clinicians to be aware of the presentation of prurigo nodularis in association with bullous pemphigoid such that effective treatment can be promptly instituted.This is especially illustrated in this case,as the treatment of bullous pemphigoid not only improved his skin condition but it also improved his psychological health and behavior with the resolution of itch.