Pemphigus herpetiformis: Case report

Abstract

Pemphigus herpetiformis is an autoimmune bullous disease considered an infrequent variant of pemphigus. It is characterized by clinical findings of dermatitis herpetiformis with immunopathological features of pemphigus. We report the case of a 33-year-old woman with dermatosis on the scalp, trunk and upper and lower extremities presenting as circular plaques with vesicles in a herpetiform pattern, white scale and yellowish crusts. Histopathological and direct immunofluorescence findings were compatible with pemphigus. The patient was treated with dapsone and prednisone, with significant improvement. This presentation is uncommon, and the clinical course differs from that of pemphigus vulgaris.

Keywords

• Pemphigus herpetiformis
• Pemphigus
• Autoimmune bullous disease
• Histopathology
• Direct immunofluorescence
• Dapsone
• Prednisone