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Pemphigus is characterized by blisters on your skin and mucous membranes. The blisters rupture easily, leaving open sores, which may ooze and become infected. The signs and symptoms of the three main types of pemphigus differ depending on the type:

• Pemphigus vulgaris. The most common form, pemphigus vulgaris usually begins with blisters in your mouth, which then erupt on your skin. Blisters can also break out on the mucous membranes of your genitals. The blisters typically are painful, but don't itch. Blisters in your mouth or throat may make it hard to swallow and to eat.
• Pemphigus foliaceus. This type doesn't usually affect mucous membranes. The blisters, which usually begin on your face and scalp and later erupt on your chest and back, usually aren't painful. They tend to be crusty and itchy.
• Paraneoplastic pemphigus. This form, which is associated with certain types of cancer, causes painful sores on your mouth and lips and in your esophagus, as well as skin lesions. This form of pemphigus can also cause lesions in your lungs, resulting in progressive lung disease and making it difficult for you to breathe (dyspnea).

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you develop blisters inside your mouth or on your skin. If you've already been diagnosed with pemphigus and are receiving treatment, see your doctor if you develop any of the following:

• New blisters or sores
• A rapid spread in the number of sores
• Fever
• Chills
• Achy muscles or joints

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Exactly what triggers pemphigus is unknown, but it's an autoimmune disorder.

Normally, your immune system attacks foreign invaders, such as harmful viruses and bacteria. But in pemphigus, your immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that attack healthy cells in your skin and mucous membranes. In most cases, the antibodies attack proteins called desmogleins that bind skin cells to each other. The antibodies binding to the skin cause separation of the cells of the top layer of your skin (epidermis). This separation reaction is known as acantholysis.

Sometimes, pemphigus develops as a side effect of certain medications, such as blood pressure drugs or chelating agents. This type of pemphigus usually disappears when the medicine is stopped.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus is caused by additional antibodies to those seen in other forms of the disorder. It develops in people who have cancer, usually lymphoma or leukemia. In cases in which the cancer hasn't yet been discovered, the appearance of pemphigus blisters may alert doctors to look for a malignancy.

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Pemphigus isn't contagious, and there's no way to predict who'll get it. However, your risk increases if:

• You're middle-aged or older
• You're of Mediterranean or Jewish descent

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Possible complications of pemphigus include:

• Infection of your skin
• Infection that spreads through your bloodstream (sepsis)
• Medication side effects, such as an increased risk of infection
• Rarely, death from infection

Complications of paraneoplastic pemphigus include:

• Respiratory problems
• A higher risk of death, no matter what the underlying cancer is

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
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You're likely to first see your primary care doctor. However, you may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).

Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to arrive well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Your time with your doctor may be limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. For pemphigus, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
• What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
• Will this treatment make my blisters heal?
• How long will it take for the blisters to heal?
• Are there any side effects from this treatment?
• Are there any alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
• What can I do for the pain?
• Will the blisters come back again?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask any questions that may occur to you during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

• When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
• Do you have any pain?
• Do the sores or blisters itch?
• Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
• Have you ever had a skin biopsy?
• Have you had any prescription treatments for this skin condition? If so, do you remember the name of the medication and the dosage you were prescribed?

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Because it's uncommon and because blisters occur with a number of conditions, pemphigus can be difficult to diagnose. Your doctor will ask you for a complete medical history and examine your skin and mouth. In addition, he or she may also look for the:

• Nikolsky sign. To look for this sign, your doctor will lightly rub a patch of normal skin near the blistered area with a cotton swab or finger. If you have pemphigus, the top layers of your skin are likely to shear off. This reaction is called the Nikolsky sign.

Other tests may include:

• Skin biopsy. In this test, a piece of tissue from a blister is removed and examined under a microscope. Examination of the biopsy tissue may also involve a process called direct immunofluorescence (DIF). DIF entails staining the tissue with fluorescent dye to make the antibodies "light up" under a special microscope so that they can be identified.
• Blood tests. The purpose of these tests is to detect and identify antibodies (anti-cell surface and anti-desmogleins) in your blood.

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Treatment, which aims at reducing signs and symptoms and preventing complications, is most effective when it begins as early as possible. The less widespread pemphigus is, the easier it may be to control. Specific treatment methods depend on the severity of the disease.

Mild pemphigus
If your pemphigus isn't too widespread, you may be able to remain at home for treatment. Medications may be used alone or in combination with each other to treat pemphigus. Commonly prescribed drugs include:

• Corticosteroids. The mainstay of treatment is usually corticosteroids, such as prednisone. However, using corticosteroids over an extended time or in high doses may cause serious side effects, including increased blood sugar, bone loss, an increased risk of infection, water retention, cataracts, glaucoma and a redistribution of body fat, leading to a round face (moon face).
• Immunosuppressants. These medications, such as azathioprine (Imuran), methotrexate (Rheumatrex) or mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), help keep your immune system from attacking healthy tissue. These drugs may have serious side effects, including increased risk of infection.
• Antibiotics, antivirals and antifungal medications. These may be prescribed to control or prevent infections, particularly infection from staphylococcus bacteria or herpes viruses.

Additionally, other medications, such as dapsone, intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab (Rituxan), may be prescribed.

Severe pemphigus
Widespread pemphigus may require you to stay in the hospital, where you may receive treatment similar to treatment for severe burns. The open sores make you highly vulnerable to infection, which, if it spreads to your bloodstream, may be fatal. Along with the medications listed above, you may be given:

• Fluids. Because you may have lost bodily fluids due to oozing of the sores, you may receive fluids through a vein (intravenously), as well as electrolytes — minerals such as sodium, potassium and calcium that maintain the balance of fluids in your body — and proteins.
• Intravenous feeding. This may be necessary if mouth sores make it too painful for you to eat.
• Anesthetic mouth lozenges. These can help control pain of mild to moderate mouth sores.
• Therapeutic plasmapheresis. In this process, the fluid part of your blood, called plasma, is removed from blood cells by a device known as a cell separator. The purpose is to get rid of the antibodies that are attacking your skin. The plasma is replaced with donated plasma or intravenous fluids.

For some people, treatment makes all of the blisters and sores disappear completely in a few months, and treatment can be stopped. Others have to stay on a lower dose of the medications indefinitely or their signs and symptoms will return.

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Here are steps you can take to improve your skin and overall health:

• Minimize trauma to your skin. Avoid situations in which your skin could be touched or bumped, such as contact sports.
• Ask your doctor for wound care instructions. Taking good care of your wounds can help prevent infection and scarring.
• Use talcum powder. Generously sprinkling talcum powder on your sheets may help keep oozing skin from sticking.
• Use lotions or dressings. To ease discomfort, treat sores and blisters with soothing or drying lotions or wet dressings. But, check with your doctor before using lotions or wet dressings for the first time.
• Avoid spicy or acidic foods, as well as those containing garlic, onions or leeks. These foods can irritate or even trigger blisters.
• Minimize sun exposure. Ultraviolet light can trigger new blisters.
• Talk with your dentist about maintaining good oral health. If you have blisters in your mouth, it may be difficult to brush your teeth properly. Ask your dentist what you can do to protect your oral health.
• Ask your doctor if you need calcium and vitamin D supplements. Corticosteroids can affect your calcium and vitamin D needs, so ask your doctor if you need a calcium supplement or any other additional nutrients.

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Some cases of pemphigus can be debilitating and potentially embarrassing, especially before treatment starts to work. To help you cope with the disease and the effects of the drugs used for treatment, you may find it helpful and encouraging to talk to others with the condition. You can find in-person or virtual support groups. Ask your dermatologist if there are any groups in your area or contact the International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF) at 916-922-1298 (this is not a toll-free call) or through their website. The IPPF also offers peer to peer support for people who are newly diagnosed.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.