Pemphigus Vulgaris and Pemphigus Foliaceus: A Single-Centre Comparative Study in Rabat, Morocco

Abstract

Background: Pemphigus is a group of rare autoimmune blistering diseases affecting the skin and mucous membranes. Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is known to be relatively benign than the other forms of pemphigus. Methods: The authors carried out a single-centre retrospective study of 40 patients with PF and 125 patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) over a 30-year period. The aim was to compare the course of these two major variants. Results: Both populations shared similar age, sex ratio, and treatment received. This investigation showed that relapses were more frequent in the group of PF, whereas the PV group needed a higher dose of corticosteroids to control the disease, a higher mortality rate, and complications were documented in this group. Severity, remissions, and mean duration of the disease were the same in both groups. Conclusion: This investigation arises some doubts concerning the relative mildness of PF. Despite the improvement of the prognosis of pemphigus through the use of immunosuppressive therapy, few studies have been interested in comparing the clinical course of treated PF and PV. In the authors’ experience, PF should be treated as PV, as they may share a mutual evolutive profile. Further investigations are needed to define if the prognosis of PF depends on epidemiological, environmental, and genetic factors, including the optimal therapeutic management of this disease.