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Vol. 105. Núm. 4.
Páginas 413-417 (Mayo 2014)
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Vol. 105. Núm. 4.
Páginas 413-417 (Mayo 2014)
Case Report
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Localized Pemphigus Foliaceus with Unilateral Facial Involvement
Pénfigo foliáceo localizado con afectación facial unilateral
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A.D. Maderal, A. Miner, C. Nousari, J. Alonso-Llamazares
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Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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Table 1. Previous reported cases of localized pemphigus foliaceus.
Abstract

Pemphigus foliaceus is a superficial vesiculobullous disease that typically presents with widespread lesions. Localized presentations are less frequent, and they typically occur in middle-aged patients, following exposure to topical medications, and later on, become more disseminated. We present a case of a 19-year-old female with a localized presentation of pemphigus foliaceus unrelated to previous topical medications, that was a diagnostic and therapeutically challenging case. We also discuss the literature on localized cases, differences in presentations and responses to various treatment modalities.

Keywords:
Pemphigus foliaceus
Localized
Bullous disorders
Resumen

El pénfigo foliáceo es una enfermedad vesículo-ampollosa superficial caracterizada por la aparición de lesiones generalizadas. Las presentaciones localizadas son menos frecuentes y suelen observarse en pacientes de mediana edad tras la exposición a medicamentos tópicos que posteriormente evolucionan a formas más diseminadas. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 19 años de edad con pénfigo foliáceo localizado no asociado a medicamentos tópicos previos cuyo diagnóstico y tratamiento han supuesto un reto. También analizamos la literatura existente sobre los casos de pénfigo foliáceo localizado, las diferencias en las presentaciones clínicas y las respuestas a distintos tipos de tratamientos.

Palabras clave:
Pénfigo foliáceo
Localizado
Enfermedades ampollosas
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Introduction

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is a superficial vesiculobullous disease characterized by production of IgG4 antibodies targeting desmoglein 1, a protein important for epidermal cell–cell adhesion.1,2 Disruption of cell–cell adhesion causes acantholysis resulting in superficial, fragile blisters that are prone to rupture. Consequently, patients typically present with erosions rather than blisters.3 Typically, the lesions are well-demarcated and occur on the face or trunk. They tend to be disseminated, and localized presentations are rare. The incidence of PF varies between different populations, and the average age of onset is between 50 and 60 years.3 The pathogenesis of PF is not completely understood, but environmental exposure appears to be involved.2,4,5 We present an interesting case of a young woman with a difficult-to-treat, localized form of PF that was unrelated to any known triggers.

Clinical case

The patient was a 19-year-old Cuban-American woman who presented to our clinic with a 6-month history of eroded, erythematous, crusted lesions on the right side of her face. The lesions had been treated unsuccessfully with topical antifungals, antibiotics, and oral antibiotics for a presumed diagnosis of tinea or impetigo. The patient had no significant past medical history, and her only medications included oral contraceptives and occasional ibuprofen.

A physical examination revealed faint erythematous, eroded impetiginized patches on the right cheek and temple (Fig. 1). A culture from 1 lesion grew methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus. Further laboratory studies were undertaken to screen for antinuclear antibodies, including anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, and antibodies against the extractable nuclear antigens Smith, Ro, and La, and the histone proteins; the results were negative in all cases. A biopsy revealed superficial acantholysis and hyperchromatic nuclei in the granular layer, consistent with PF. Direct immunofluorescence studies demonstrated segmental intercellular staining with immunoglobulin (Ig) G and C3 (Fig. 2a and b). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was negative for desmogleins 1 and 3. Based on these results, a diagnosis of PF was confirmed and the patient was started on clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment with partial response. A trial of dapsone 100mg daily for 2 months resulted in no benefit. Prednisone 60mg daily with gradual taper induced clinical remission with no relapse during a follow-up of 18 months, except for a recent development of a single erythematous patch on the right cheek with confirmation of PF by direct immunofluorescence testing.

Figure 1.

Faint erythematous and eroded impetiginized patches on the right cheek and temple.

(0,16MB).
Figure 2.

(a) Superficial acantholysis and hyperchromatic nuclei in the granular layer (hematoxylin–eosin, original magnification ×20) and (b) DIF at 40× magnification displaying segmental intercellular staining for IgG and C3.

(0,25MB).

Localized PF is rare, and only 12 cases have been reported in the literature (Table 1)4,6–12; moreover, some of these cases later developed widespread lesions.6,7,12 Topical medications, such as imiquimod and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been implicated in localized PF (Table 1).4,5 In contrast, to other cases reported, our patient was younger, she denied application of any topical medications, and the lesions did not become disseminated.

Table 1.

Previous reported cases of localized pemphigus foliaceus.

Author  Age  Location of lesions  Presumed triggers  Pathology findings  DIF, IIF, and/or ELISA  Therapy and response  Dissemination 
Newton et al.627  Left side of nose  ND  Subcorneal bulla with considerable acantholysis  DIF: intercellular IgG and C3• IIF: positive  Unresponsive to topical steroids  No 
62  Nose  ND  Acantholysis in granular layer  DIF: intercellular C3• IIF: positive at a titre of 1:320  Unresponsive to topical steroids; controlled with cyclophosphamide  Yes 
43  Nose  ND  N/A  N/A  Oral prednisone 5–15mg/d prevented relapse  N/A 
Paramsothy et al.734  Tip of nose, external nares and nasolabial fold  ND  Subcorneal blister which was partially intra- and partially infra-granular with acantholytic cells  DIF: IgG between epidermal cells• IIF: positive at a titre of 1:40  Prednisolone 30mg/day cleared rash but discontinued due to side effects  Yes 
65  Nose and behind left ear  ND  Intraepidermal bulla formation below the granular layer; marked acantholysis  DIF: IgG between epidermal cells and granular IgM in basement membrane• IIF: negative  Lesions improved after topical clobetasol propionate  N/A 
Yamamoto et al.8  81  Right cheek  ND  Intraepidermal cleft in granular layer and acantholytic cells within the cleft  DIF: IgG in intercellular spaces of upper cell layers• IIF: negative  Received minocycline 100mg daily, nicotinamide 9.0g daily and betamethasone valerate 2.0g daily; lesion cleared in 14 days  No 
Termeer et al.9  83  Scalp  Appeared following small local injury  Split in upper granular layer of epidermis and superficial bulla filled with acantholytic keratinocytes and fibrin  DIF: IgG in upper epidermal layers  Treated with tacrolimus 0.1% twice daily and it significantly improved after 1 month  No 
Lin et al.4  53  Left side of face  Topical 5% imiquimod cream  Superficial acantholytic vesicular dermatitis  DIF: IgG at keratinocyte cell surface in granular layer  IM 0.1% TAC and topical clobetasol propionate resulted in improvement, required oral prednisone to maintain clinical remission  No 
Kishibe et al.10  63  Tip of nose  ND  Subcorneal acantholysis, especially of follicular infundibulum  DIF: IgG deposition• IIF: negativeELISA: negative for anti-desmogleins 1 and 3 antibodies  Responded to oral prednisolone 40mg daily  No 
Zaraa et al.1142  Scalp  ND  Acantholytic cells were present  DIF: positive• IIF: positiveELISA: positive for anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies  Topical clobetasol propionate and infiltration of triamcinolone acetonide resulted in complete healing  No 
34  Right cheek  ND  Acantholytic cells were present  DIF: positive• IIF: positive  Treated with oral prednisone and cyclophosphamide  No 
Ohata et al.12  68  Right cheek  ND  Dyskeratotic acantholytic cells in infundibulum of hair follicle  ELISA: positive for anti-desmoglein 1 antibody  Did not receive immediate treatment and lesions spread; later treated with prednisolone 30mg/d  Yes 
Our case  19  Right cheek and temple  ND  Intercellular staining with IgG and C3  DIF: positive• ELISA: negative for desmogleins 1 and 3  Partial response to clobetasol 0.05% ointment; failure of response to dapsone 100mg daily; prednisone 60mg with gradual taper induced remission  No 

Abbreviations: DIF, direct immunofluorescence; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IIF, indirect immunofluorescence; ND, not determined; N/A, not available information.

Despite the clinical impression of impetigo, the lack of response to appropriate antibiotic treatment and the persistence of the lesions prompted us to suspect an immunobullous disorder as the source of the secondarily impetiginized lesions. The presence of subcorneal acantholysis and intercellular staining demonstrated by direct immunofluorescence confirmed the diagnosis of PF: the histopathological features of bullous impetigo may be similar to those of PF, but immunopathology would be negative in bullous impetigo.2 In PF, ELISA testing of anti-desmoglein-1 antibodies is usually positive, with sensitivities as high as 97.9%,13 and this test has been found to have greater sensitivity and specificity than conventional indirect immunofluorescence (IIF).14 A positive ELISA was reported in two of the published cases of localized PF, and IIF results in these cases were variable (see Table 1). Interestingly, our patient had a negative ELISA but IIF results were positive.

With regard to management, topical steroids may be used for more localized lesions (see Table 1) but systemic steroids are currently the mainstay of treatment and were required in our patient to induce clinical remission.15 Other treatments, such as dapsone, failed in our case.

In conclusion, immunobullous disease should be suspected in presumed infectious disorders that are refractory to appropriate antimicrobial treatment. This case exemplifies the need for proper pathological and immunopathological studies to establish a diagnosis of this very unusual variant of PF.

Ethical disclosuresProtection of human and animal subjects

The authors declare that no experiments were performed on humans or animals for this investigation.

Confidentiality of data

The authors declare that this study was carried out in accordance with the protocols of their institution concerning the publication of patient data, and that all the patients included in the study were properly informed and gave their written informed consent to participation.

Right to privacy and informed consent

The authors obtained the informed consent of the patients and/or subjects referred to in this article. The signed forms are in the possession of the corresponding author.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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