Clinical manifestations and indirect immunofluorescence study of pemphigus

Piyavadee Nuchkull; Sumruay Pinkaew; Wararat Sirikudta; Papapit Tuchinda

Authors

Piyavadee Nuchkull DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND
Sumruay Pinkaew DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND
Wararat Sirikudta DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND
Papapit Tuchinda DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE SIRIRAJ HOSPITAL, MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND

Keywords:

pemphigus, indirect immunofluorescence, severity, outcome

Abstract

Background: Pemphigus is an autoimmune vesiculobullous disease. Indirect immunofluorescence study (IIF) is the standard method for the detection of pemphigus autoantibodies.

Objectives: To study the clinical profile and the correlation IIF study in Thai patients with pemphigus

Material and Methods: Patients who were diagnosed as pemphigus and patients’ sera were tested by IIF from the Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, from July 1992 to August 2010 were enrolled.

Results: Of 108 patients, 91 were diagnosed as pemphigus vulgaris (PV), 17 were diagnosed as pemphigus foliaceus. The IIF titer at the time of diagnosis of PV showed significant correlation with severity of the disease but did not showed the association with mucosal involvement. IIF titers in PV patients who were free of lesions were significantly lower than patients who still had active lesions.

Conclusion: The IIF titer shows a prognostic correlation with disease severity.

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