Dermatopathology (Part 2) Flashcards
Inflammatory blistering disorders
- Pemphigus
- Bullous Pemphigoid
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Noninflammatory blistering disorders
- Epidermolysis Bullosa
- Porphyria
Subcorneal blisters
- Stratum corneum forms the roof of the bulla (as in pemphigus foliaceus)
Suprabasilar blister
- Portion of the epidermis, including the stratum corneum, forms the roof (as in pemphigus vulgaris)
Subepidermal blister
- The entire epidermis separates from the dermis (as in bullous pemphigoid)
Pemphigus
- Etiological factor = autoantibodies
- Result in the dissolution of intercellular attachments (epidermis, mucosal epithelium)
Pemphigus in adults
- Fourth to 6th decades of life
- Men and women are affected equally
Multiple variants of pemphigus
- Pemphigus vulgaris
- Pemphigus vegetans
- Pemphigus foliaceus
- Pemphigus erythematosus
- Paraneoplastic pemphigus
- Disorders are benign
- Extreme cases can be fatal without treatment
Pemphigus vulgaris
- Most common type (80% of cases worldwide)
- Mucosa
- Skin
Pemphigus vulgaris affects the skin
- Scalp
- Face
- Axilla
- Groin
- Trunk
- Points of pressure
Pemphigus vulgaris as oral ulcers
- Persist for months before skin involvement appears
Pemphigus vulgaris primary lesions
- Superficial vesicles and bullae that rupture easily
- Shallow erosions covered with dried serum and crust
Pemphigus foliaceus
- Benign form (endemic in Brazil; fogo selvagem)
Pemphigus foliaceus sites of predilection
- Scalp
- Face
- Chest
- Back
- Mucous membranes (rarely affected)
Pemphigus folaceus bullae
- Blisters found in the superficial epidermis at the level of the stratum granulosum
- Present as areas of erythema and crusting
- Erosions of previous blister rupture
Common histologic feature of all forms of Pemphigus
- Acantholysis
Acantholysis in pemphigus
- Dissolution or lysis of the intercellular bridges
- Pemphigus vulgaris and Pemphigus vegetans
- Acantholysis selectively involves the cells immediately above the basal cell layer
- Suprabasal acantholytic blister
Pemphigus pathogenesis (autoimmune)
- IgG autoantibodies against desmogleins
- Disruption of intercellular adhesions
- Result – Blisters formation
- Direct immunofluorescence
Direct immunofluorescence in pemphigus
- Net-like pattern of intercellular IgG deposits
- Pemphigus vulgaris = IgG is usually seen at all levels of the epithelium in
- Pemphigus foliaceus = IgG distribution is superficial
Pemphigus vulgaris depositis
- Deposition of Ab along the plasma membranes of keratinocytes in a reticular pattern
- Accompanied by suprabasalar loss of cell-to-cell adhesion (acantholysis)
Pemphigus foliaceus deposits
- Ab deposits and acantholysis are more superficial
Bullous pemphigoid
- Affects the elderly
- Orla lesions
Bullous pemphigoid sites of involvement
- Inner aspects of the thighs
- Flexor surfaces of the forearms
- Axillae
- Groin
- Lower abdomen
Bullous pemphigoid oral lesions
- Present in 10% to 15% of affected individuals
- Appear after the cutaneous lesions
- Patients may present with urticarial plaques and severe pruritus