Zeitschrift für Infektionskrankheiten und Therapie

Abstrakt

Oral Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Case which was Misdiagnosed as Stomatitis

Naveen Chaudhary, Vigi Chaudhary, Girish K. Goswami and Amarendra Nath Pathak

Pemphigus vulgaris is a life- threatening chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the formation of intraepithelial blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. Pemphigus vulgaris initially manifests in the form of intraoral lesions which spread to other mucous membranes and the skin. The etiology of Pemphigus vulgaris is still unknown. It results from an autoimmune process in which antibodies are produced against desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3, normal components of the cell membrane of keratinocytes. Most patients are initially misdiagnosed and improperly treated for many months or even years. General practitioners and other medical professionals must be sufficiently familiar with the clinical manifestations of pemphigus vulgaris to ensure early diagnosis and treatment, as this in turn determines the prognosis and course of the disease. We are reporting a case of oral pemphigus vulgaris, a potentially chronic dermatological condition which was misdiagnosed in its earliest stage as stomatitis.