Oral Pemphigus Vulgaris in Elderly: conducts and management

Abstract

Pemphigus is na autoimmune disease that depending on the epithelial involvement could be classified as vulgaris, vegetans, erythematous and foliaceus. There is also the paraneoplastic pemphigus that is specially bounded to malignant neoplasms, specifically for lymphomas. Only vulgaris and vegetans variants could affect mouth mucosa. The most prevalent one is pemphigus vulgaris. The pathophysiological mechanism of the disease is characterized by the action of autoantibodies against the desmogleins proteins of epithelial cell desmosomes. Thus, forming intraepithelial clefts and blisters. The management of patients with oral pemphigus vulgaris is quite challenging, especially in elderly individuals with comorbidities. This paper aims to discuss contemporary aspects of pemphigus vulgaris and to clarify the case of an elderly woman affected by the disease, highlighting all the propaedeutic used in her care and the treatment employed.