Three Patients from the Pemphigoid Group and a Case of Pigment Glaucoma

Author’s address: Dr. C. M. J. Velzeboer, Oogheelkundige Kliniek, Academisch Ziekenhuis der Vrije Universiteit te Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) This is rather a heterogeneous group of anomalies, with marked clinical differences and an uncertain pathogenesis, which has in common the subepithelial localization of the disease process. The following patients were demonstrated: A 60-year-old woman with the Stevens-Johnson syndrome, with lesions of the skin and conjunctivae. The conjunctival lesions were more hypertrophic and catarrhal than pseudomembranous in character and healed without symble-pharon. A 70-year-old patient with pemphigoid and marked symplepharon. A sister of the patient is suffering from Sjögren’s disease, the patient herself has difficulties with swallowing. The diagnosis of Sjögren’s disease could not be made in her case, but a few ulcers and later a bulla were found in the area of the epiglottis. No antibodies to the skin or conjunctiva could be found in the serum. A 74-year-old woman with conjunctivitis, which at first affected both eyes, and became chronic in the left eye while the right eye recovered. During the process many micro-organisms were found but antibiotic therapy was without result. Inclusion bodies were not found. The cornea remained clear. Local hypertrophy of the conjunctiva tarsalis superior developed in the course of two years’ observation. The final picture was dominated by keratinization and symblepharon formation. This patient may perhaps belong to the group of secondary pemphigoid. Demonstration of a 61-year-old man with pigment glaucoma, with fairly marked atrophy of the posterior surface of the iris, dense pigmentation of the trabeculum and pigment deposition on the cornea and iris.