Pemphigus

pemphigus

[′pem·fə·gəs] (medicine) An acute or chronic disease of the skin characterized by the appearance of bullae, which develop in crops or in continuous succession.

Pemphigus

a chronic disease characterized by a crop of blisters, or bullae, having a flaccid covering and serous-hemorrhagic contents; the blisters form on the apparently intact skin or mucosa of the oral cavity, larynx, eyes, and genitals. The blisters rapidly enlarge and multiply, bursting to form extensive ulcerated surfaces. The patient’s general condition is disturbed; there is general weakness and elevation of body temperature. Infection of the mouth and larynx makes food intake difficult.

The causes of pemphigus have not been conclusively determined. The disease usually afflicts middle-aged and elderly persons. The mechanism of formation of pemphigus vulgaris is acantholysis, a type of degenerative change in epidermal cells. It involves the dissolution of the intercellular bridges, degenerative change of the nuclei, and loss of part of the cell protoplasm. As a result, communication between the layers of epidermis is disrupted. In other forms of pemphigus, the blisters form as a result of an inflammatory process.

Pemphigus vulgaris progresses gradually, and cachexia develops. The prognosis for persons suffering from other forms of pemphigus is relatively favorable. Treatment includes the ingestion of hormonal preparations, antimicrobial agents, or analgesics. Disinfecting solutions may be applied externally.

S. S. KRIAZHEVA

pemphigus

[pem´fĭ-gus] any of a group of diseases characterized by successive crops of large bullae (“water blisters”). Although rare, they are serious and require prompt treatment. The cause is unknown; they seem to occur only in adults and can occur in acute or chronic form. The term is often used alone to refer to pemphigus vulgaris" >pemphigus vulgaris.
Clusters of blisters usually appear first near or inside the nose and mouth and then gradually spread over the skin of the rest of the body. When the blisters burst, they leave round patches of raw and tender skin. The skin itches, burns and gives off an offensive odor. The patient loses appetite and weight. If the disease is allowed to progress, it may cause extreme weakness, prostration and shock, accompanied by chills, sweating, fever, and often pneumonia.
The patient must be hospitalized from the beginning and given antibiotics and sometimes blood transfusions. Intense discomfort is present and the patient may need to suck anesthetic tablets to allay pain around the mouth while eating. Progress has been made in the treatment of this disease through the persistent use of cortisone, administered orally, and of the pituitary extract ACTH, administered intramuscularly. Fatalities, once fairly common, now can usually be averted. The disease is difficult to control, however, and therapy sometimes must be maintained for years to prevent continuing attacks.benign familial pemphigus a hereditary, recurrent vesiculobullous dermatitis, usually involving the axillae, groin, and neck, with crops of lesions that regress over several weeks or months. Called also Hailey-Hailey disease.pemphigus erythemato´sus a variant of pemphigus foliaceus in which the lesions, limited to the face and chest, resemble those of disseminated lupus erythematosus.pemphigus folia´ceus a superficial, relatively mild and chronic form of pemphigus, usually occurring in the fourth and fifth decades of life, and characterized by the development of small flaccid bullae that rupture and crust and localized or generalized exfoliation. The lesions may be found on the scalp, face, and trunk, or they may spread to become generalized.pemphigus ve´getans a variant of pemphigus vulgaris in which the bullae are replaced by large wartlike vegetative masses.pemphigus vulga´ris the most common and severe form of pemphigus, usually occurring between the ages of 40 and 60, characterized by the chronic development of flaccid, easily ruptured bullae upon apparently normal skin and mucous membranes, beginning focally but progressing to become generalized, leaving large, weeping, denuded surfaces that become partially crusted over with little or no tendency to heal and that enlarge by confluence. In untreated cases, sepsis, cachexia, and electrolyte imbalance may occur and lead to death.

pem·phi·gus

(pem'fi-gŭs), 1. Autoimmune bullous diseases with acantholysis: pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus erythematosus, or pemphigus vegetans. 2. A nonspecific term for blistering skin diseases. [G. pemphix, a blister]

pemphigus

(pĕm′fĭ-gəs, pĕm-fī′gəs)n. Any of several acute or chronic skin diseases characterized by groups of itching blisters.

pem′phi·gous adj.

pemphigus

Dermatology An autoimmune disease–pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus vulgaris–characterized by acantholysis with bulla formation. See Anti-epidemal antibody, Paraneoplastic pemphigus, Pemphigus vulgaris.

pem·phi·gus

(pem'fi-gŭs) 1. Autoimmune bullous diseases with acantholysis: pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus erythematosus, or pemphigus vegetans. 2. A nonspecific term for blistering skin diseases. [G. pemphix, a blister]

pemphigus

A rare but serious autoimmune skin disease featuring blisters on the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth and sometimes the nose. These blisters may be induced by minor pressure and rupture easily, leaving raw areas that readily becoming infected. Pemphigus is caused by IgG autoantibodies directed against cell surface antigens (probably desmogleins) on keratinocytes which lose mutual cellular adhesion. Widespread pemphigus can lead to serious functional skin loss and life-threatening infection. Treatment is with corticosteroid or other immunosuppressant drugs. These often have to be given for long periods. A common pathophysiological mechanism is present in pemphigus, bullous impetigo and the staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.

Pemphigus

An autoimmune disorder in which the immune system produces antibodies against specific proteins in the skin and mucous membrane. These antibodies produce a reaction that leads to a separation of skin cells.Mentioned in: Corticosteroids, Systemic

pem·phi·gus

(pem'fi-gŭs) Autoimmune bullous diseases with acantholysis: pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus erythematosus, or pemphigus vegetans.[G. pemphix, a blister]

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Words related to pemphigus

noun a skin disease characterized by large thin-walled blisters (bullae) arising from normal skin or mucous membrane

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