Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous Pemphigoid is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder that causes large, fluid-filled blisters on areas of skin that often flex, such as the arms, legs, and abdomen. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the skin’s basement membrane, leading to separation of skin layers and blister formation, typically in older adults.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Bullous Pemphigoid include:

• Large, tense blisters filled with clear fluid
• Red or itchy rash before blisters appear
• Blisters typically form on the arms, legs, abdomen, or groin
• Skin around blisters may be inflamed or painful
• In some cases, mouth or eye sores may occur

Types of Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid is primarily classified based on the location and appearance of the blisters:

• Generalized Bullous Pemphigoid: The most common type, featuring widespread, tense blisters mainly on the arms, legs, and trunk.
• Localized Bullous Pemphigoid: Blisters appear in specific areas, often around wounds or areas of pressure.
• Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (a related condition): Involves the mucous membranes, such as the mouth, eyes, or genitals, and can lead to scarring.
• Non-Bullous Pemphigoid: In some cases, patients experience intense itching and red patches without visible blisters.

Causes

Bullous Pemphigoid is an autoimmune disorder caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking proteins that connect the outer layer of skin (epidermis) to the underlying layer (dermis). This immune response leads to inflammation and blister formation. It is not inherited and typically occurs in older adults, often without a known trigger, though certain medications or skin injuries may increase risk.

Prevention and Care

As an autoimmune condition, Bullous Pemphigoid cannot be fully prevented, but flare-ups can be managed. Avoiding skin trauma, using gentle skincare products, and wearing loose-fitting clothing can help reduce blister formation. Treatment often includes corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, and regular follow-up with a dermatologist is important to control symptoms and prevent complications.

Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disorder, representing 80% of subepidermal immunobullous cases. It most commonly affects elderly patients between the ages of 60 and 80. This activity reviews the etiology, presentation, evaluation, and management of bullous pemphigoid and the interprofessional team's role in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing the condition.

Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid is the most frequent autoimmune bullous disease and mainly affects elderly individuals. Increase in incidence rates in the past decades has been attributed to population aging, drug-induced cases and improvement in the diagnosis of the nonbullous presentations of the disease. A dysregulated T cell immune response and synthesis of IgG and IgE autoantibodies against hemidesmosomal proteins (BP180 and BP230) lead to neutrophil chemotaxis and degradation of the basement membrane zone.

Insights into bullous pemphigoid: A comprehensive review of diagnostic modalities

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disorder associated with profound morbidity. Timely diagnosis of BP is critical for early initiation of therapies, but diagnosis of BP is often challenging. As the pathophysiology of BP has been further elucidated, new diagnostic modalities have been developed. However, it remains unclear which modalities are the most effective for diagnosing BP.

EB Research Network

The EB Research Network is a collaborative global network of organizations, researchers, and advocates working together to advance research and find treatments for Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Debra of America

Debra of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) through advocacy, research funding, and resources for individuals and families.

Taiwan EB Association

The EB Association Taiwan is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) in Taiwan through advocacy, support services, and raising awareness of this rare genetic condition.