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Bullous pemphigoid most common autoimmune bullous disease in patients with psoriasis

Bullous pemphigoid was the most prevalent autoimmune bullous disease in patients with coexistent psoriasis, followed by anti-laminin gamma-1 pemphigoid, according to recently published study results.

Researchers conducted a retrospective study of 145 patients who were diagnosed with coexisting autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBDs) and psoriasis between Jan. 1, 1996, and July 31, 2013, at an academic dermatology department in Fukuoka, Japan. Patients included 134 consultation cases. Patients had a mean age at AIBD onset of 65.4 years, and 119 of the patients were men (82.1%).

One hundred and three patients had direct immunofluorescence data available, with positive results obtained in 99 of the patients. In 141 patients, psoriasis onset preceded AIBD onset, with a mean duration between psoriasis and AIBD onset of 14.6 years, including 17 patients (12.1%) who developed bullous lesions during ultraviolet therapy.

Although a single disease made up most of the AIBDs coexisting with psoriasis, 16 patients had combined AIBDs. Only bullous pemphigoid (BP) was present in 78 (53.8%) of patients, whereas 40 patients (27.6%) had only anti-laminin gamma-1 pemphigoid, and 10 patients (6.9%) had coexisting BP and anti-laminin gamma-1 pemphigoid.

Psoriasis vulgaris was the most prevalent type of psoriasis, occurring in 122 patients, followed by pustular psoriasis in 13 patients, psoriatic erythroderma in seven patients and psoriatic arthritis in three patients.

The researchers reported the ratio of patients in the study with pustular psoriasis was significantly higher than in the general Japanese population with psoriasis, and that further study was needed to confirm whether the patients’ characteristics were race-related. – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.