Radiation-Associated Pemphigus Vulgaris in a Patient With Preceding Malignancy: Treatment With Rituximab as a Valuable Option

Pemphigus is a chronic autoimmune blistering disorder, characterized by (muco-)cutaneous erosions due to autoantibodies against desmoglein 3 and/or 1. Pemphigus induction might be associated with drugs, malignancy or radiation therapy (RT); the latter being only rarely described. A rigorous literature review revealed around 30 cases of RT-associated pemphigus, which had been primarily treated with topical and/or systemic steroids, in some cases also dapsone or few other immunosuppressive agents were given. The most common underlying cancer type was breast cancer. We here present a 63-year-old male patient, who was pre-treated with adjuvant RT for larynx carcinoma 3 months before admission. He developed extensive cutaneous, ocular, and oral erosions. Despite the clinical picture comparable to a paraneoplastic pemphigus, the diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris of mucocutaneous type was established based on the direct immunofluorescence, showing positive cell surface IgG and discrete C3 deposits, with matching cell surface IgG pattern on monkey esophagus. Serum autoantibodies to desmoglein 1 and 3 were highly positive. No further autoantibodies were found, thus paraneoplastic pemphigus was excluded. The patient was treated with high dose prednisolone, partially given intravenously up to 2 mg/kg per day, as well as topical disinfectants and class IV steroid cream. To stabilize the disease rituximab 2 × 1,000 mg was given, leading to clinical and serological remission for up to 2 years now. We show that rituximab represents a good treatment option for the frequently treatment-refractory RT-associated pemphigus, a clinically and immunologically specific RT-induced skin disorder, resulting in long-term clinical, and serological remission.