Oesophageal Involvement During Attacks in Pemphigus Vulgaris Patients

Abstract

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare autoimmune bullous skin disorder characterized by frequent involvement of the mucous membranes, usually beginning at the mouth. To investigate the oesophageal involvement in patients with PV and to explore the primary relationship of the disease with symptoms such as dysphagia, odynophagia and retrosternal burning. Oesophageal involvement was investigated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy during the early phase of the attacks in 26 patients with PV (12 men, 14 women, age range 24-63 years). Histopathological examination and direct immunofluorescence of the oesophageal biopsy specimens revealed pemphigus involvement in 12 of 26 patients (46.15%). The oesophagus is an important predilection zone for PV, thus care must be taken to detect these lesions at an early stage.