Pemphigus vulgaris triggered by psychological stress
Pemphigus vulgaris triggered by psychological stress

Summary/Abstract: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare but severe autoimmune disease caused by autoantibodiesdirected against desmosomes, and clinically characterized by bullae and painful erosions ofthe skin and mucous membranes.While the morphology is well defined, its etiopathogenesis remains a subject of research. PV,the most frequent and representative form of the autoimmune bullous dermatoses, has a poorprognosis in the absence of medical treatment. The onset and course of PV depend on avariable interaction between predisposing and inducing factors. Thus, drugs, viral infections(herpes simplex virus), physical agents, contact allergens, vaccinations, dietary factors, andpsychological stress have been implicated in the disease. Stressful life events have beenassociated with the course of several autoimmune skin diseases and reported a possible factorin triggering and aggravating for pemphigus in predisposed patients. Psychological care,associated with the immunosuppressive treatment, should entail a better management of thesepatients.

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