Open AccessRefractory pemphigus foliaceous treated with rituximab
Author(s) -
Fatima Awdeh,
Eimear Gilhooley,
Ciara O Grady,
Maureen Connolly
Publication year - 2019
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-2018-229026
Subject(s) - medicine , pemphigus foliaceus , dermatology , rituximab , rash , pemphigus , clearance , erythroderma , scalp , mucocutaneous zone , autoantibody , immunology , antibody , pathology , disease , urology
Autoimmune blistering diseases are rare but potentially life-threatening conditions. Pemphigus foliaceus is one of these conditions, characterised by superficial erosions of the skin without mucosal involvement. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman who presented with a 4-week history of rash affecting her scalp with associated hair loss. Clinical and histopathological findings were in keeping with pemphigus foliaceus. She was successfully treated with rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against CD20, leading to a transient depletion of B cells. After 5 months of follow-up, her rash had cleared, and her hair had completely regrown.