Spectrum of Autoimmune Bullous Diseases in the Middle East: A 15-Year Review

Skinmed. 2017 Jun 1;15(3):181-186. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Characteristics of autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBDs) show wide geographic variation. The aim of this study was to determine retrospectively the characteristics of patients with AIBD admitted to Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, between 1999 and 2014 and to compare them with those from other areas in the Middle East, the Far East, Asia, North Africa, Europe, and North America. For the patients with AIBDs and who were hospitalized at a major tertiary referral center between 1999 and 2004, we studied demographics, diagnosis, length of stay, department/floor, comorbidities, clinical features, in-hospital evolution, diagnostic tests, and treatment. Bullous pemphigoides was the most frequent bullous disease in Lebanon. This and other findings contrast with those of studies conducted in regional countries. This is the first report of AIBD from the Middle Eastern region.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Autoimmune Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / drug therapy
  • Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lebanon / epidemiology
  • Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / epidemiology
  • Pemphigoid, Bullous / drug therapy
  • Pemphigoid, Bullous / epidemiology
  • Pemphigus / drug therapy
  • Pemphigus / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult