Lichen planus pemphigoides evolving into pemphigoid nodularis

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2003 Nov;28(6):613-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2230.2003.01401.x.

Abstract

Lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) and pemphigoid nodularis are rare clinical variants of bullous pemphigoid (BP), which are characterized by histological findings of lichen planus (LP) and nodular prurigo, respectively, and the finding of linear deposits of IgG and/or C3 at the basement membrane zone in perilesional skin. In both cases bullae may arise at the site of pre-existing LP-like or nodular prurigo-like eruptions, and clinically uninvolved skin. The disease spectrum of LPP and pemphigoid nodularis differs from that of classical BP phenotype, and their presentations are often indolent. LPP may predominantly affect a younger age group and is responsive to standard treatments used in acquired autoimmune bullous diseases, while pemphigoid nodularis is more common in elderly women and is relatively resistant to therapy. We describe a patient who had LPP for nearly two decades and subsequently developed a nodular eruption with a concurrently detected antibullous pemphigoid antigen 2 (BP180) autoantibody. His overall clinicopathological features were indicative of LPP evolving into another BP variant, pemphigoid nodularis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Autoantigens / blood
  • Azathioprine / therapeutic use
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Collagen Type XVII
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Dystonin
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Lichen Planus / complications*
  • Lichen Planus / immunology
  • Lichen Planus / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Mycophenolic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Non-Fibrillar Collagens
  • Pemphigoid, Bullous / etiology*
  • Pemphigoid, Bullous / immunology
  • Pemphigoid, Bullous / pathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DST protein, human
  • Dystonin
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Non-Fibrillar Collagens
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Azathioprine