Bullous diseases
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Bullous disease happens. Dermatopathologists help diagnose it.
An introduction to skin pathology is in the dermatopathology article. An introduction to inflammatory skin lesions in the non-malignant skin disease article.
DDx of bullous disease:[1]
- Bullous pemphigoid.
- Pemphigus vulgaris.
- Porphyria cutanea tarda.
- Dermatitis herpetiformis.
- Epidermolysis bullosa.
Bullous pemphigoid
General
- Less serious than pemphigus vulgaris.
Epidemiology:
- Old people (60-80 year olds).
Clinical
- Extreme pruritis.
Etiology:
- Antibodies to BPAG2.
Microscopic
Features:[2]
- Subepidermal blisters.
- +/-Lymphocytes.
- +/-Eosinophils.
- +/-Neutrophils.
Notes:
- Epidermis not affect, i.e. non-acantholytic.
- Linear Ig deposits along basement membrane.
Images:
DDx:
- Bullous lupus.
Pemphigus vulgaris
- AKA pemphigus.
General
Classic presentation:
- Mouth lesions.
- Non-pruritic.
Treatment:
- Prednisone then steroid sparing agent.
Epidemiology:
- Associated with thymoma, myasthenia gravis, malignancy & D-penicillamine (used to Tx Wilson's disease).
- Middle age.
Microscopic
Features:[5]
- Suprabasilar blistering.
DDx: Hailey-Hailey disease.
Images:
Notes:
- Desmoglein 1, desmoglein 3 - abnormal.
Hailey-Hailey disease
General
- Familial.
Trivia:
- Described by a pair of brothers.
Microscopic
Features:
- Suprabasilar blistering.
DDx:
- Pemphigus vulgaris.
Dermatitis herpetiformis
General
- Associated with celiac sprue.
Clinical:
- Pruritis - intense.
Microscopic
Features:[7]
- Subepidermal blistering.
- Clusters of neurophils (microabscesses) - at tips of dermal papillae - key feature.
- Basal cell injury (vacuolization).
Notes:
- Immunofluorescence - IgA deposits at dermal papillae.
Images:
Porphyria cutanea tarda
General
Etiology:
- Genetic, autosomal dominant.
Treatment:
- D/C aggravating substances (see below) - phlebotomy, hydroxychloroquine if phlebotomy contraindicated.
Note:
- Fits into a larger category of porphyria.
Associations
Medications/substances:
Non-infection chronic conditions:
- DM.
Infections:
Gross
- In photoexposed areas subjected to trauma.
Microscopic
Features:[9]
- Subepidermal vesicles.
- Thickening of superficial dermal blood vessels.
Images:
Epidermolysis bullosa
- Inherited, bullae & erosions from slight mechanical trauma.
See also
References
- ↑ TN07 D21-3.
- ↑ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson; Aster, Jon (2009). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 1195. ISBN 978-1416031215.
- ↑ URL: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/94/NYU/Feb2002/8.html. Accessed on: 20 March 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://missinglink.ucsf.edu/lm/DermatologyGlossary/bullous_pemphigoid.html. Accessed on: 20 March 2011.
- ↑ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson; Aster, Jon (2009). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 1193. ISBN 978-1416031215.
- ↑ URL: http://www.dermpedia.org/baby-dermpedia-for-beginners/pemphigus-vulgaris. Accessed on: 20 March 2011.
- ↑ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson; Aster, Jon (2009). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 1196. ISBN 978-1416031215.
- ↑ URL: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/94/NYU/Nov2001/9.html. Accessed on: 21 March 2011.
- ↑ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson; Aster, Jon (2009). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 1197. ISBN 978-1416031215.