Lichen planus pemphigoides. Is it a separate entity?

A case of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta pemphigoides successfully treated with methotrexate and corticosteroids

Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) pemphigoides is an uncommon skin disease, which is characterized by the appearance of blistering skin lesions in patients with PLEVA. We present a 3-year-old boy, who was diagnosed with PLEVA pemphigoides. Combined treatment of oral methotrexate and corticosteroids was more effective than corticosteroids alone on this patient.

Lichenoid and interface dermatoses

The terms 'lichenoid' and 'interface' dermatitis are often used interchangeably to describe an inflammatory pattern characterized histologically by damage to the basal keratinocytes in the epidermis. The mechanism of cell damage of such cells is now best understood as apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This inflammatory pattern of dermatoses, is also accompanied frequently by a band of lymphocytes and histiocytes in the superficial dermis, that often obscures the dermal-epidermal junction, hence the term 'lichenoid'. A discussion of the more common lichenoid/interface dermatitides encountered in the routine clinical practice encompasses the following entities: lichen planus, lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, erythema multiforme, graft versus host disease, fixed drug reactions, and multiple others.

Childhood lichen planus pemphigoides: a case report and review of the literature

Lichen planus pemphigoides is a rare autoimmune blistering disease that is characterized by evolution of vesico-bullous skin lesions in patients with active lichen planus. We describe a case of lichen planus pemphigoides in a 6-year-old boy and review the clinical and immunopathologic features of all reported cases of pediatric lichen planus pemphigoides. The mean age at onset of childhood lichen planus pemphigoides is 12 years with a male to female ratio of 3:1 and a mean lag-time between lichen planus and the development of lichen planus pemphigoides of 7.9 weeks. Vesiculo-bullous lesions were found on the extremities in all patients and there was palmoplantar involvement in about half of the cases. Direct and indirect immunofluorescence features were similar to those reported in adults. One patient had Western immunoblot data revealing antigens of 180, 230, and 200 kDa. Immunoelectron microscopy in two cases showed localization of immune deposition different from that in bullous pemphigoid. We found that topical corticosteroids or oral dapsone caused resolution of lichen planus pemphigoides without known relapse of blistering in four cases, suggesting that it might be possible to reserve oral corticosteroids as a second line of therapy in children with lichen planus pemphigoides.

Pemphigoïde du sujet jeune

INTRODUCTION

Bullous pemphigoid usually affects elderly people. Only a few isolated cases among people younger than 65 years have been reported.

OBJECTIVES

Describe the clinical and biological characteristics of patients younger than 60 years suffering from bullous pemphigoid, compare them with the usual characteristics known among elderly people and search for potential pathological associations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective, national, multicenter study. Clinical, biological and histological characteristics were recorded with a standardised questionnaire as well as treatments and associated pathologies.

RESULTS

Seventy-four cases of bullous pemphigoid diagnosed between June 1970 and March 2002 were analyzed. Mean age at the beginning of the disease was 46 +/- 11.6 years. Further explorations by indirect immunofluorescence of separated skin and/or immuno-electron microscopy and/or immunoblotting were performed for 42 patients (56.8 p. 100). Clinical characteristics among this restricted population were comparable to those found among the 32 other cases. Compared to usual data on bullous pemphigoid in elderly people, we observed a greater proportion of extensive form of disease (75 p. 100), a more frequent head and neck involvement (39.2 p. 100) and an overexpression of anti-BP180 autoantibodies (48 p. 100). Neoplasm was notified for 7 patients (9.5 p. 100), 18 (24.3 p. 100) suffered from a pathology of the basement membrane zone (6 psoriasis, 6 atopic dermatitis and 6 lichen) and 13 from neurological disease, among which 4 were bedridden. Fourty-six patients (62.2 p. 100) received drugs for the long term (mean 2.12 +/- 2.43), 4 patients were treated by PUVAtherapy and 2 by radiotherapy.

DISCUSSION

Our results suggest that bullous pemphigoid among young people is more severe and more active than the usual form in the elderly. This particular form could be the result of a higher expression of anti-BP180 autoantibodies, which are considered as a marker of poor prognosis in this disease. We also found a high frequency of pathological associations and physical treatment, all responsible for damage to the basement membrane zone, which can involve auto-immunization against hemidesmosome components.

Lichen planus pemphigoides with IgG autoantibodies to the 180 kd bullous pemphigoid antigen (type XVII collagen)

We describe a 75-year-old patient with pruritic papules on her trunk and extremities, typical of lichen planus, who later experienced subepidermal blisters. These clinical features are consistent with lichen planus pemphigoides. Immunofluorescence of perilesional skin showed linear deposits of C3 along the dermoepidermal junction. Circulating IgG autoantibodies were found to be directed against an epidermal component of the dermoepidermal junction because the patient's serum labeled the epidermal side of 1 mol/L NaCl-split skin. The patient's IgG autoantibodies were directed exclusively against the 180 kd bullous pemphigoid antigen (BPAg2, type XVII collagen) detected in human keratinocyte lysate by Western blot assay. No reactivity was found against the 230 kd bullous pemphigoid antigen, type VII collagen, or the laminin-5 subunits. This study demonstrates that BPAg2 is recognized, not only by bullous pemphigoid sera, but also by lichen planus pemphigoides sera. Our findings attest to the similarity of immunopathology in these two subepidermal blistering skin diseases.

Lichen planus

Lichen Planus is a relatively common inflammatory dermatosis of unknown origin. The present review summarizes the histological and clinical features of lichen planus and variants, including lichenoid drug reactions, are described. Possible mechanisms of pathogenesis of lichen planus are reviewed. The development of malignancy in association with lichen planus and the association with hepatitis are discussed. Treatment options for the more difficult manifestations of lichen planus are proposed.