Bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris

Published Date: 19th June 2017

Publication Authors: Aslam A

​Autoimmune bullous diseases are characterised by blistering of the skin or mucous membranes. Blisters form due to the antibodies against structural skin components. The two most common bullous diseases are bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris. Most of our epidemiological data comes from European studies. Estimates of the incidence of bullous pemphigoid range from 2.8 per 100 000 person years in the US to 4.28 per 100 000 person years in the UK most commonly presenting in people over 80 years old. Pemphigus vulgaris is rarer and its geographic distribution more variable: whereas in Israel the incidence has been estimated at 5.3 per 100 000 person years, in the UK it was only 0.7.

 Kayani, M and Alsam, A. (2017).Bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris. BMJ . 357 (j2169).

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