Open AccessAtypical case of mucous membrane pemphigoid in a 26-year-old man
Author(s) -
Deepak Sambhara,
Ji Hyae Lee,
Seth Pantanelli
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2018-225872
Subject(s) - medicine , symblepharon , dermatology , mucous membrane , biopsy , pemphigoid , pathology , antibody , conjunctiva , bullous pemphigoid , immunology
A 26-year-old Caucasian man with no previous history of chemical injury presenting with an inability to open his right eye was investigated for mucous membrane pemphigoid and treated. Examination was notable for symblepharon of the right eye and impetigo-like lesions on the face and neck. A biopsy with immunohistochemical analysis was significant for linear deposits of C3 and immunoglobulin G at the level of the epithelial basement membrane, confirming the diagnosis of mucous membrane pemphigoid. Although mucous membrane pemphigoid classically presents bilaterally in women in the sixth and seventh decades of life, our patient was a young man with unilateral cicatrising conjunctivitis who may have been easily misdiagnosed without a high index of suspicion. A biopsy is required in cases of cicatrising conjunctivitis so that even atypical cases such as the one presented herein can be appropriately managed.