Frontiers in Pharmacology (Oct 2020)

Treatment of Autoimmune Bullous Diseases During Pregnancy and Lactation: A Review Focusing on Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Gestationis

  • Giovanni Genovese,
  • Giovanni Genovese,
  • Federica Derlino,
  • Emilio Berti,
  • Emilio Berti,
  • Angelo Valerio Marzano,
  • Angelo Valerio Marzano

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.583354
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

Read online

Pregnancy may induce the onset or exacerbation of autoimmune bullous diseases such as pemphigus or pemphigoid gestationis. A shift toward T helper (Th) 2 immune response and the influence of hormonal changes have been evoked as possible triggering factors. Therapeutic management of this setting of patients may represent a challenge, mainly due to safety concerns of some immunosuppressive drugs during pregnancy and lactation. In this narrative review, we provided a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic management of autoimmune bullous diseases in pregnant and breastfeeding women, focusing on pemphigus and pemphigoid gestationis.

Keywords