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Bullous Pemphigoid

By

Daniel M. Peraza

, MD, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University

Reviewed/Revised Feb 2024
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Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease that causes blistering of the skin.

  • Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the immune system attacks the skin and causes blistering.

  • People develop large, itchy blisters with areas of inflamed skin.

  • Doctors can diagnose bullous pemphigoid by examining skin samples under a microscope and checking for certain antibody deposits.

  • Treatment involves corticosteroids and drugs that suppress the immune system.

The body's immune system Overview of the Immune System The immune system is designed to defend the body against foreign or dangerous invaders. Such invaders include Microorganisms (commonly called germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi) Parasites... read more makes special cells that protect the body against harmful foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Some of these cells respond to invaders by producing proteins called antibodies. Antibodies Antibodies One of the body's lines of defense ( immune system) involves white blood cells (leukocytes) that travel through the bloodstream and into tissues, searching for and attacking microorganisms and... read more Antibodies target and attach to the invaders and attract other cells in the immune system to destroy them. In an autoimmune disorder Autoimmune Disorders An autoimmune disorder is a malfunction of the body's immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues. What triggers an autoimmune disorder is not known. Symptoms vary depending... read more , the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues—in this case, the skin. The antibodies that are produced mistakenly target the tissues as invaders, which makes them susceptible to destruction.

Bullous pemphigoid occurs more often in people over age 60 but can occur in children. It is a less serious disease than pemphigus vulgaris Pemphigus Vulgaris Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare, severe autoimmune disorder in which blisters of varying sizes break out on the skin and on the lining of the mouth and other mucous membranes. Pemphigus vulgaris... read more Pemphigus Vulgaris (which also causes blistering), is not usually fatal, and does not result in widespread peeling of skin. It can involve a large portion of the skin, however, and can be very uncomfortable.

Although the cause of bullous pemphigoid is unknown, certain drugs (such as furosemide, spironolactone, sulfasalazine, antipsychotic drugs, penicillin, penicillamine, and etanercept), physical causes (such as radiation therapy for breast cancer and ultraviolet radiation), skin disorders (such as psoriasis Psoriasis Psoriasis is a chronic, recurring disease that causes one or more raised, red patches that have silvery scales and a distinct border between the patch and normal skin. A problem with the immune... read more Psoriasis , lichen planus Lichen Planus Lichen planus, a recurring itchy disease, starts as a rash of small, separate, red or purple bumps that then combine and become rough, scaly patches. The cause is unknown but may be a reaction... read more Lichen Planus , and some infections), and certain other disorders (such as diabetes Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood sugar (glucose) levels to be abnormally high. Symptoms of diabetes may... read more , rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis in which joints, usually including those of the hands and feet, are inflamed, resulting in swelling, pain, and often destruction of joints.... read more Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) , ulcerative colitis Ulcerative Colitis Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease in which the large intestine (colon) becomes inflamed and ulcerated (pitted or eroded), leading to flare-ups (bouts or attacks) of... read more , and multiple sclerosis Overview of Demyelinating Disorders Most nerve fibers inside and outside the brain are wrapped with many layers of tissue composed of a fat (lipoprotein) called myelin. These layers form the myelin sheath. Much like the insulation... read more ) may trigger an autoimmune attack on the skin.

Symptoms of Bullous Pemphigoid

Itching is often the first symptom of bullous pemphigoid. Blisters may not appear for several years. Before blisters appear, large, raised areas may develop, . The immune system eventually forms antibodies directed against the skin, resulting in large, tense, and very itchy blisters surrounded by areas of normal-appearing skin or red, inflamed skin. The blisters usually do not burst, but those that do often rapidly heal.

Blisters commonly develop on the parts of the body that are able to flex, such as the backs of the knees, the underarms, the insides of the elbows, and the groin. They sometimes develop on areas of skin that have been injured, the anus or genitals, the lower legs, and on areas where an artificial opening to the outside of the body (such as a stoma in the abdomen) exists. A rare form of bullous pemphigoid affects the hands and feet and can look like a form of hand and foot dermatitis Hand and Foot Dermatitis Hand and foot dermatitis is a chronic dermatitis characterized by red, scaly, thickened skin on the hands, the feet, or both. (See also Overview of Dermatitis.) Hand and foot dermatitis often... read more Hand and Foot Dermatitis . Blisters in the mouth are rare.

Examples of Bullous Pemphigoid

Diagnosis of Bullous Pemphigoid

  • A doctor's evaluation

  • Skin biopsy

Bullous pemphigoid is diagnosed with certainty by examining under a microscope a sample of skin taken from in and around a blister (skin biopsy Biopsy Doctors can identify many skin disorders simply by looking at the skin. A full skin examination includes examination of the scalp, nails, and mucous membranes. Sometimes the doctor uses a hand-held... read more Biopsy ). Doctors differentiate bullous pemphigoid from pemphigus vulgaris and other blistering disorders by noting the layers of skin involved and the particular appearance of antibody deposits.

Treatment of Bullous Pemphigoid

  • Corticosteroids (in cream or pill form)

  • Sometimes other drugs, including immunosuppressants for people with severe disease

Initially, doctors give people potent corticosteroid creams, such as clobetasol, to apply directly to the skin. These creams may reduce the need for drugs taken by mouth. People who have blisters on large portions of skin often need the corticosteroid prednisone taken by mouth, which is gradually reduced (tapered) after several weeks. Most people are symptom-free after 2 to 10 months, but treatment may need to be continued for several years before it can be stopped completely.

The combination of nicotinamide and either minocycline or tetracycline is sometimes successful in treating bullous pemphigoid. Other drug options include treatment with only dapsone, sulfapyridine, or erythromycin. Immune globulin given by vein (intravenously) is used occasionally. Sometimes, drugs that suppress the immune system, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, rituximab, omalizumab, or cyclophosphamide, are given to people with severe disease that does not respond to other treatment.

Although some skin care, such as keeping the affected areas clean to prevent infection and perhaps wearing loose-fitting clothes, may be needed, most people do not require hospitalization for intensive skin care treatment.

Prognosis for Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid is a chronic disease. Although drugs are helpful, they may cause side effects.

With treatment, symptoms typically go away within months, but treatment is sometimes needed for several years.

More Information

The following English language resource may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Delone , FUROSCIX, Lasix
Aldactone, CAROSPIR
Azulfidine, Azulfidine En-Tabs, Sulfazine , Sulfazine EC
Cuprimine, Depen, D-PENAMINE
Enbrel
Clobetavix, Clobevate, Clobex, Clodan, Cormax, Embeline, Embeline E, Impeklo, Impoyz, Olux, Olux-E, Olux-Olux-E Complete Pack, Temovate, Temovate E, Temovate Scalp, Tovet
Deltasone, Predone, RAYOS, Sterapred, Sterapred DS
Amzeeq, Arestin, Dynacin, Minocin, minolira, Myrac, Solodyn, Ximino, Zilxi
Emtet-500, Panmycin, Sumycin
Aczone
A/T/S, Akne-mycin, E.E.S., Emcin Clear , EMGEL, E-Mycin, ERYC, Erycette, Eryderm , Erygel, Erymax, EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythra Derm , Erythrocin, Erythrocin Lactobionate, Erythrocin Stearate, Ilosone, Ilotycin, My-E, PCE, PCE Dispertab , Romycin, Staticin, T-Stat
Jylamvo, Otrexup, Rasuvo, RediTrex, Rheumatrex, Trexall, Xatmep
Azasan, Imuran
CellCept, Myfortic
RIABNI, Rituxan, RUXIENCE, truxima
Xolair, Xolair Prefilled
Cyclophosphamide, Cytoxan, Neosar
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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