Successful pregnancy and delivery in a rare case of pemphigus vulgaris
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20250539Keywords:
Pemphigus vulgaris, Rare, Autoimmune, Bullous dermatosis, Steroids, Pregnancy, Neonatal outcomeAbstract
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare autoimmune bullous dermatosis characterized by flaccid blisters and extensive erosions on the skin and mucous membranes. While in the active stage of PV lesions, it is reported to be linked to infertility, and its presence during pregnancy is exceedingly rare. Pregnancies complicated by pemphigus vulgaris often result in adverse obstetrical outcomes, including prematurity, neonatal skin lesions, and even fetal demise. Our patient, a chronic pemphigus vulgaris case, was being treated with rituximab, a pregnancy category C drug. Later upon conceiving, her medication was switched to oral steroids, which were later changed to intravenous steroids due to a flare-up in the third trimester. Her elective lower segment caesarean section was done with delivery of a female baby weighing 2.6 kg with APGAR scores of 8 and 9 at one minute and five minutes respectively, without any apparent skin lesions. During the postpartum period, her skin lesions resolved completely by the time of her routine postnatal follow-up.
Metrics
References
Kridin K. Pemphigus group: Overview, epidemiology, mortality, and comorbidities. Immunol Res. 2018;66(2):255-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-018-8986-7
Firooz A, Mazhar A, Ahmed AR. Prevalence of autoimmune diseases in the family members of patients with pemphigus vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994;31:434-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-9622(94)70206-3
Kardos M, Levine D, Gurcan H, Ahmed RA. Pemphigus vulgaris in pregnancy: analysis of current data on the management and outcomes. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2009;64:739‐49.
Joly P, Gilbert D, Thomine E, Zitouni M, Ghohestani R, Delpech A, et al. Identification of a new antibody population directed against a desmosomal plaque antigen in Pemphigus and Pemphigus foliaceus. J Invest Dermatol. 1997;108:469-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12289720
Fainaru O, Mashiach R, Kupferminc M, Shenhav M, Pauzner D, Lessing JB. Pemphigus vulgaris in pregnancy: A case report and review of literature. Hum Reprod. 2000;15(5):1195-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/15.5.1195
Kardos M, Levine D, Gurcan H, Ahmed RA. Pemphigus vulgaris in pregnancy: analysis of current data on the management and outcomes. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2009;64:739‐49.
Kardos M, Levine D, Gürcan HM, Ahmed RA. Pemphigus vulgaris in pregnancy: Analysis of current data on the management and outcomes. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2009;64:739-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/OGX.0b013e3181bea089
Ramsey‐Goldman R, Schilling E. Immunosuppressive drug use during pregnancy. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1997;23:149-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-857X(05)70320-3
Genovese G, Derlino F, Berti E, Marzano AV. Treatment of autoimmune bullous diseases during pregnancy and lactation: A review focusing on pemphigus and pemphigoid gestationis. Front Pharmacol. 2020;11:583354. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.583354
Goldberg NS, DeFeo C, Kirshenbaum N. Pemphigus vulgaris and pregnancy: Risk factors and recommendations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993;28(5):877-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0190-9622(93)70123-B
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
