BULLOUS PEMPHIGOID: A CASE REPORT

Bullous Pemphigoid (BP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic blistering of the sub-epidermal skin. It occurs most frequently in elderly patients and has a rising incidence. The typical clinical features of BP are large, tense bullae preceded by urticarial plaques and severe pruritus. The exact etiological cause of Bullous Pemphigoid is not known. Diverse factors have been reported to play a role in triggering Bullous Pemphigoid and include mechanical trauma, drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, DPP-4 inhibitors, captopril, penicillamine, antibiotics, furosemide and penicillin's, and physical traumas like burns from radiation, sun or heat. The pathogenesis of BP is characterized by tissue bound and circulating IgG autoantibodies against two components of the hemidesmosome of stratified epithelia, BP 230 KD (BPAg1) and BP 180 KD (BPAg2, COL17). A case report of a 54 years old, female patient diagnosed with Bullous Pemphigoid on the basis of clinical findings, histopathology and direct immunofluorescence is presented. Therapy was initiated with Antibiotics, Corticosteroids, topical creams, and calcium supplements.

Key words: Bullous Pemphigoid (BP), autoimmune, sub-epidermal bulla, hemidesmosome, elderly, corticosteroids.