Localization of basement membrane components in mucous membrane pemphigoid

Oral mucosal diseases: Mucous membrane pemphigoid

Subepithelial vesiculobullous conditions are chronic autoimmune disorders that arise from reactions directed against components of the hemidesmosomes or basement membrane zones (BMZ) of stratified squamous epithelium to which the term immune-mediated subepithelial blistering diseases (IMSEBD) has been given. Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is the most common, but variants do exist. Non-immune disorders that involve these epithelial components typically have a genetic basis--the main example being epidermolysis bullosa. All subepithelial vesiculobullous disorders present as blisters and erosions, and diagnosis must be confirmed by biopsy examination with immunostaining, sometimes supplemented by other investigations. No single treatment reliably controls all subepithelial vesiculobullous disorders; the immunological differences within IMSEBD may account for differences in responses to treatment. Currently, as well as improving oral hygiene, immunomodulatory treatment is used to control the oral lesions of MMP, but it is not known if its specific subsets reliably respond to different agents.

Number III Mucous membrane pemphigoid

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a sub-epithelial vesiculobullous disorder. It is now quite evident that a number of sub-epithelial vesiculobullous disorders may produce similar clinical pictures, and also that a range of variants of MMP exist, with antibodies directed against various hemidesmosomal components or components of the epithelial basement membrane. The term immune-mediated sub-epithelial blistering diseases (IMSEBD) has therefore been used. Immunological differences may account for the significant differences in their clinical presentation and responses to therapy, but unfortunately data on this are few. The diagnosis and management of IMSEBD on clinical grounds alone is impossible and a full history, general, and oral examination, and biopsy with immunostaining are now invariably required, sometimes supplemented with other investigations. No single treatment regimen reliably controls all these disorders, and it is not known if the specific subsets of MMP will respond to different drugs. Currently, apart from improving oral hygiene, immunomodulatory-especially immunosuppressive-therapy is typically used to control oral lesions. The present paper reviews pemphigoid, describing the present understanding of this fascinating clinical phenotype, summarising the increasing number of subsets with sometimes-different natural histories and immunological features, and outlining current clinical practice.

Number 1Epithelial biology

The oral mucous membrane has features similar to skin but also differs in several ways. This paper reviews the aspects of epithelial biology necessary for an understanding of the vesiculoerosive disorders.

Profile of autoantibody to basement membrane zone proteins in patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid: long-term follow up and influence of therapy

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is an autoimmune mucocutaneous blistering disease characterized by autoantibodies to components within the basement membrane zone. In this study, we report the titers of autoantibodies to antigens in the BMZ, in the sera of 13 patients, treated with intravenous immunoglobulin as monotherapy over a consecutive 18-month period. Using bovine gingiva lysate as substrate in an immunoblot assay, autoantibodies to human bullous pemphigoid antigens (BPAg1 and BPAg2), human beta4 integrin, and laminin 5 were measured. A statistically significant (P < 0.05) decline in the autoantibody titers to beta4-integrin was observed after 3.42 months of initiating the IVIg therapy. These titers were undetectable after 13 months of therapy. The titers of antibodies to BPAg1 and BPAg2 did not correlate with disease activity or response to therapy. Antibodies to laminins were not detected. In patients with MMP, autoantibody titers to beta4-integrin correlate with disease activity and response to therapy.

Esthetic management of multiple recession defects in a patient with cicatricial pemphigoid

Cicatricial pemphigoid is one of a number of mucocutaneous disorders that can present in the oral cavity with desquamation, pain, and bleeding of the gingiva and oral mucosa. This case report describes the management of cicatricial pemphigoid in a patient with multiple sites of gingival recession using connective tissue grafting to alleviate root surface sensitivity and improve esthetics. The treatment rationale is presented and discussed in terms of timing of therapy and implications for wound healing in patients who present with desquamative gingivitis.

Cicatricial pemphigoid diagnosed by the use of indirect immunofluorescence

BACKGROUND

A thorough work-up is paramount in the accurate diagnosis of oral erosive diseases.

OBJECTIVE

A case of pemphigoid with negative direct immunofluorescence but positive indirect immunofluorescence is presented.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A 77-year-old man presented with erosions of the oral and glans mucosa and with esophageal stenosis. Histologic examination revealed nonspecific mucositis. Indirect immunofluorescence was characteristic of pemphigoid.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrates the importance of performing a complete diagnostic work-up in the evaluation of patients with oral erosive disease.

Contemporary issues in the diagnosis of oral pemphigoid: a selective review of the literature

Pemphigoid is a group of bullous diseases that have a diversified morphologic presentation and affect the skin, oral mucosa, and other mucosal membranes, alone or in combination. In the literature, the condition has been subclassified into bullous pemphigoid and cicatricial pemphigoid (mucous membrane pemphigoid) on the basis of the primary organ of involvement. In addition to the clinical presentation and a subepithelial vesicle or bullae on routine histologic analysis, the diagnosis is based on direct and indirect immunofluorescence studies. Recent investigations indicate that different clinical groups of patients with pemphigoid produce autoantibodies to different molecules within the basement membrane zone. Based on these recent observations and a review of the literature, a viewpoint is presented that not all patients with cicatricial pemphigoid should be grouped together. Rather, they should be classified into subgroups-ocular, oral, etc-on the basis of the clinical phenotype and long-term follow-up. Such a division will facilitate the provision of appropriate and relevant treatment plans; if the clinical course changes, the diagnosis can be adjusted. This strategy will prevent patients with disease limited to the oral cavity from receiving systemic drugs or agents that may be more harmful than beneficial.

Update on mucous membrane pemphigoid: a heterogeneous immune-mediated subepithelial blistering entity

Most oral involvement in the skin diseases (dermatoses) is related to mucous membrane pemphigoid or lichen planus. Mucous membrane pemphigoid was the subject of a European Symposium held in Turin, Italy, in June 1997. This review is based on that symposium. Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a subepithelial vesiculobullous disorder mainly of late middle age; it has a slight predilection for women. Whereas mucous membrane pemphigoid was formerly considered a single entity, it is now quite evident that a number of subepithelial vesiculobullous disorders may produce similar clinical pictures and also that a range of variants of mucous membrane pemphigoid exists, with antibodies directed against various hemidesmosomal components or components of the epithelial basement membrane. The term immune-mediated subepithelial blistering diseases has therefore been used. Diagnosis and management of immune-mediated subepithelial blistering diseases on clinical grounds alone are impossible; a full history, general and oral examinations, and biopsy with immunostaining are now invariably required, sometimes supplemented with other investigations. Most patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid affecting the mouth manifest desquamative gingivitis, a fairly common complaint typically seen in women who are middle-aged or older. Oral vesicles and erosions may also occur, and there can be a positive Nikolsky sign. Some patients have lesions of other stratified squamous epithelia, presenting as conjunctival, nasal, oesophageal, laryngeal, vulval, penile, or anal involvement. Apart from improving oral hygiene, immunomodulatory-in particular, immunosuppressive-therapy is typically required to control oral lesions in mucous membrane pemphigoid. No single treatment regimen reliably controls all these disorders.

Clinical, historic, and therapeutic features of cicatricial pemphigoid. A literature review and open therapeutic trial with corticosteroids

Cicatricial pemphigoid is at present an incurable, autoimmune disease that involves mucosa and skin. We have documented the clinical, microscopic, and therapeutic features of 23 patients with cicatricial pemphigoid and added these to reports of past literature. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 63 years, and women were involved twice as often as men. Eighty-three percent of patients had oral mucosal involvement, 70% had conjunctival involvement, and 22% had skin involved. Direct immunologic evaluation revealed IgG at the basement membrane in 57% of cases and C3 in 66%. We have been able to manage the disease adequately in most patients with topical or systemic corticosteroids. The most commonly encountered side effect was oral candidiasis.

Mucous membrane pemphigoid. Treatment experience at two institutions

The initial oral findings and treatment in 50 cases of mucous membrane pemphigoid are presented. Histologic and immunologic studies were undertaken in each case to confirm the clinical diagnosis. The treatments prescribed are summarized and illustrate that topical steroids are effective, but in some cases systemic steroid therapy with or without other immunologically active drugs is required. A significant number of patients had extraoral manifestations of the disorder.

Intraoral biopsy technique for direct immunofluorescence studies

A wedge biopsy technique is described for use when oral manifestations of vesiculoerosive disease are suspected. The resultant soft tissue specimens are submitted for both light microscopic and direct immunofluorescence studies. This technique offers the advantage of obtaining highly diagnostic, mirror-image soft tissue specimens from a single perilesional site while minimizing postsurgical morbidity to the patient.

Vesiculo-bullous mucocutaneous disease: benign mucous membrane and bullous pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) and benign mucous membrane pemphigoid (BMMP) are autoimmune diseases characterised by subepithelial bulla formation and showing substantial overlap in clinical signs and symptoms. BP principally involves skin and BMMP the oral mucosa and eyes. The gingiva are affected in 90% of cases of BMMP and buccal mucosa and palate in up to 30%. Lesions may heal with scarring. Extension into the pharynx and esophagus causes sore throat and dysphagia. Severe ocular involvement may cause blindness. Bulla formation is attributed to complement activation, following IgG binding to the basement membrane zone, with subsequent polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulation. The target antigen in BP is a 180-230 kD protein associated with the basilar membrane of basal keratinocytes. The gene encoding the BP antigen has been partially cloned. It is likely that the same antigen is involved in BMMP, but the mechanism of scarring is not understood. Treatment of BP and BMMP includes systemic steroid and azathioprine therapy and topical steroids.

Gingival manifestations of childhood cicatricial pemphigoid

Cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) is found almost exclusively among middle-aged and elderly persons. This article describes a rare case of CP in a 14-year-old girl; it appeared on the mandibular anterior gingiva as desquamative gingivitis. Histologic examination of the lesions showed a subepithelial bulla. Immunofluorescence of gingival biopsy revealed immunoglobulin G, protein C3, and faint immunoglobulin A deposition along the basement membrane zone; results for normal skin were negative. Indirect immunofluorescence produced negative results. There are only six documented cases of childhood CP previously reported in the literature. The clinical and immunologic features of these cases are reviewed.

Laminin: molecular organization and biological function

Laminin, the most abundant glycoprotein molecule found in basement membrane, has multiple functions in eukaryotic tissues. It serves to attach epithelial cells to basement membrane, aids development and migration of specific cell types in growth and maturation, and has been implicated in tumor metastasis and some types of infection. Current concepts of the molecular organization and myriad functions of the laminin molecule are reviewed.

Mucous membrane pemphigoid: an elusive diagnosis?

Vesiculobullous diseases, including mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), are uncommon. This study was a retrospective examination of the clinical findings, histopathologic findings, and lesional immunostaining with respect to 76 consecutive patients referred to the Department of Oral Medicine, Surgery and Pathology, Bristol Dental Hospital and School, between 1982 and 1985 with a potential diagnosis of MMP. Of these, 42 patients were assigned alternative clinical diagnoses, 71% of which were confirmed by immunostaining and histology. Thus, MMP was clinically diagnosed in 34 patients (28 women and 6 men, with an average age of 59 years). However, unequivocal histologic confirmation of this diagnosis was obtained for only 4 patients, and direct immunostaining confirmation was obtained for just 7 patients. On the basis of a combination of the clinical, histopathologic, and direct immunofluorescence examinations, in only 3 of the 34 patients (8%) was an unequivocal diagnosis of classic MMP possible.