eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Bullous Diseases

Pemphigus, Drug-Induced: Follow-up

Author: Diane M Scott, MD, Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist, Palm Beach Dermatology
Coauthor(s): Daniel Davis, MD, Associate Professor, Departments of Dermatology, Otolaryngology, and Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Kimberly I Soderberg, MD, Consulting Staff, Oyster Point Dermatology
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 13, 2009

Follow-up

Complications

  • Secondary infections may occur in drug-induced pemphigus because of the disruption of the skin barrier. Extensive erosions may promote entrance of bacteria, resulting in cutaneous infections, bacteremia, or sepsis.

Prognosis

  • Patients with thiol-induced pemphigus and patients lacking cell surface autoantibodies have a more favorable prognosis. Up to 50% of thiol-induced pemphigus cases remit upon withdrawal of the drug.
  • Patients with pemphigus induced by nonthiol drugs are more likely to have cell surface antibodies and to have a chronic course similar to idiopathic pemphigus vulgaris.

Patient Education

  • Educate patients about their disease and their medications, including adverse effects from therapy.
  • The International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation, a nonprofit support group for patients with pemphigus and their families, offers an active web site and a quarterly newsletter, as well as local chapters in many parts of the country.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure of dermatologists and other providers to be alert to the role of drugs in causing pemphigus: Offending agents must be stopped and the patient treated appropriately.
 


More on Pemphigus, Drug-Induced

Overview: Pemphigus, Drug-Induced
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Pemphigus, Drug-Induced
Treatment & Medication: Pemphigus, Drug-Induced
Follow-up: Pemphigus, Drug-Induced
References

References

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  2. Brenner S, Bialy-Golan A, Anhalt GJ. Recognition of pemphigus antigens in drug-induced pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jun 1997;36(6 Pt 1):919-23. [Medline].

  3. Ramseur WL, Richards F 2nd, Duggan DB. A case of fatal pemphigus vulgaris in association with beta interferon and interleukin-2 therapy. Cancer. May 15 1989;63(10):2005-7. [Medline].

  4. Nagao K, Tanikawa A, Yamamoto N, Amagai M. Decline of anti-desmoglein 1 IgG ELISA scores by withdrawal of D-penicillamine in drug-induced pemphigus foliaceus. Clin Exp Dermatol. Jan 2005;30(1):43-5. [Medline].

  5. Hur JW, Lee CW, Yoo DH. Bucillamine-induced pemphigus vulgaris in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and polymyositis overlap syndrome. J Korean Med Sci. Jun 2006;21(3):585-7. [Medline].

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Further Reading

Keywords

pemphigus, drug-induced pemphigus, antibiotic-induced pemphigus, medication-induced pemphigus, thiol-induced pemphigus, pyrazolone-induced pemphigus

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Diane M Scott, MD, Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist, Palm Beach Dermatology
Diane M Scott, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Daniel Davis, MD, Associate Professor, Departments of Dermatology, Otolaryngology, and Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Kimberly I Soderberg, MD, Consulting Staff, Oyster Point Dermatology
Kimberly I Soderberg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Arkansas Medical Society, and Women's Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

David Woodley, MD, Co-Chair, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Southern California
David Woodley, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Clinical Investigation, New York Academy of Medicine, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Jeffrey J Miller, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Penn State University College of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center
Jeffrey J Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, North American Hair Research Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine M Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania
Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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