Case for diagnosis

Caso para diagnóstico

WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS?

Case for diagnosis

Caso para diagnóstico

Iolanda Conde Fernandes^I; Madalena Sanches^II; Rosário Alves^III; Manuela Selores^IV

^IResident in Dermatology - Service of Dermatology, Centro Hospitalar do Porto (Porto Hospital Center), EPE - Hospital de Santo António (Santo António Hospital) - Porto, Portugal

^IIHead of the Service of Dermatology - Centro Hospitalar do Porto, EPE - Hospital de Santo António - Porto, Portugal

^IIIPhysician Assistant, Department of Dermatology - Service of Dermatology, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, EPE - Hospital de Santo António - Porto, Portugal

^IVDirector of the Department of Dermatology, Professor of Dermatology (School of Biomedicine) - Head of the Department - Service of Dermatology, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, EPE - Hospital de Santo António - Porto, Portugal

^{Mailing address}

ABSTRACT

We report a clinical case of a rare variant of pemphigus - pemphigus herpetiformis - which combines the clinical features of dermatitis herpetiformis with the immunological findings of pemphigus. Due to its atypical presentation, it is frequently misdiagnosed as dermatitis herpetiformis. It is basically characterized by the herpetiform pattern of skin lesions, severe pruritus and by the presence of eosinophilic spongiosis confirmed on histopathology. We call attention to the excellent response to dapsone.

Keywords: Biopsy; Dapsone; Fluorescent antibody technique; Pemphigus

RESUMO

Descrevemos um caso clínico de uma variante rara de pênfigo - pênfigo herpetiforme - que combina os aspectos clínicos da dermatite herpetiforme com os achados imunológicos do pênfigo. Devido à sua apresentação atípica, é frequentemente diagnosticado equivocamente como dermatite herpetiforme. Caracteriza-se essencialmente pelo padrão herpetiforme das lesões cutâneas, prurido intenso e presença de espongiose eosinofílica no exame histopatológico. Enfatizamos a excelente resposta terapêutica à dapsona.

Palavras-chave: Biópsia; Dapsona; Imunofluorescência; Pênfigo

CASE REPORT

A 63-year-old Caucasian man presented with a two-month history of an intensely pruritic, symmetric and polymorphous skin eruption. His past medical history was unremarkable.

On examination, we observed multiple papules, vesicles, pustules and crusted excoriations on an erythematous base, especially over the buttocks, legs and arms (Figure 1). The oral and genital mucosas were spared. Nikolsky's sign was negative.

Tzanck smear showed abundant eosinophils with absence of acantholytic cells. Histopathological examination revealed eosinophilic spongiosis and intraepidermal vesicles filled with eosinophils and neutrophils (Figure 2). Direct immunofluorescence microscopy showed intercellular deposits of IgG (Figure 3). High titers of circulating anti-desmoglein 1 autoantibodies were demonstrated by immunoblot study. The remaining workup, which included blood tests, imagiologic studies and gastrointestinal endoscopy, was normal.

The patient was treated with 100 mg/day dapsone and showed an excellent response. After a year, he was free of the disease on a maintenance dose of 50 mg dapsone daily.

DISCUSSION

Pemphigus herpetiformis (PH) was diagnosed based on clinical, histopathological and immunological findings.

PH was first introduced by Jablonska et al. in 1975. ¹ It is considered a rare variant of pemphigus which combines the clinical features of dermatitis herpetiformis with the immunological findings of pemphigus. Due to its rarity and atypical presentation, PH is frequently misdiagnosed as dermatitis herpetiformis, pemphigus foliaceus, bullous pemphigoid and several other autoimmune bullous conditions.

Clinically, patients present with severe intractable pruritus with cutaneous lesions arranged in a herpetiform pattern, resembling the clinical picture of dermatitis herpetiformis. Histological findings vary according to the evolution of skin lesions, and typical findings of pemphigus emerge only later in the disease process. ² Therefore, several biopsies may be needed to establish a correct diagnosis. In the early stages, biopsy specimens show eosinophilic spongiosis with or without acantholytic cells and intraepidermal vesicles and bullae filled with neutrophils and eosinophils. This is an important but non-diagnostic histological reaction and it may be the initial pattern of a pre-acantholytic inflammatory stage. The finding of eosinophilic spongiosis should prompt a recommendation for other diagnostic studies. Because the clinical presentation of the disease and the histological findings are often atypical, the most consistent test for diagnosis of PH is immunofluorescence. ³ Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) performed on perilesional skin revealed intraepithelial intercellular IgG deposits, which is the typical finding. ³ Most PH autoantibodies target desmoglein (Dsg) 1, with exceptional cases manifesting autoantibodies against Dsg 3, implicating the predominant autoimmunity similar to pemphigus foliaceus rather than pemphigus vulgaris. ⁴ Several cases of PH without anti-Dsg 1-3 autoantibodies were reported. ⁴ More recently, it has been found that many patients with PH also show autoantibodies against desmocollin. ⁵

Several papers have reported clinical cases of HP associated with some neoplasms, HIV infection and medication. ^6,7,8 Diagnostic investigations in our patient showed no evidence of associated systemic disease, and he was not taking any drugs.

In general, the disease shows a benign course, with a good response to treatment. Our patient had been initially treated with prednisolone without any benefit. Therefore, he was started on dapsone with total response. Dapsone is considered the best drug for the treatment of PH with doses ranging from 100 to 300 mg daily. ² It may be given as monotherapy or in association with corticosteroids and immunosuppressant drugs. It is known that superficial forms of pemphigus, those with low or negative antibody titers and histological features of eosinophilic spongiosis, respond well to dapsone. ⁹ However, some cases of PF and PV in patients with PH have been reported. ^2,9 In these cases, systemic corticosteroids in combination with immunosuppressants may be required.

Received on 14.06.2011.

Approved by the Advisory Board and accepted for publication on 02.01.2012.

Conflict of interest: None

Financial funding: None

* Work conducted at Centro Hospitalar do Porto, EPE - Hospital Geral de Santo António - Porto, Portugal.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  27 Nov 2012
• Date of issue
  Dec 2012

History

• Received
  14 June 2011
• Accepted
  02 Jan 2012