BACKGROUND: There are large discrepancies in reported mortality for bullous pemphigoid (BP). OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the mortality of a large cohort of patients with BP and compare this with age-matched control subjects. METHODS: Data were collected on 223 patients with a new diagnosis of BP between 1998 and 2003 through our cutaneous immunofluorescence laboratory databases. The mortality of patients with BP was compared with that of age-matched control subjects in the general US population. RESULTS: The 1-, 2-, and 5-year mortality was 0.23 (95% confidence interval=0.18, 0.29), 0.37 (95% confidence interval=0.31, 0.44), and 0.50 (95% confidence interval=0.42, 0.57), respectively. However, relative to age-matched control subjects, no difference in expected mortality was detected. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective cohort analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality of patients with BP is more likely related to advanced age and associated medical conditions than to disease-specific factors.
BACKGROUND: There are large discrepancies in reported mortality for bullous pemphigoid (BP). OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the mortality of a large cohort of patients with BP and compare this with age-matched control subjects. METHODS: Data were collected on 223 patients with a new diagnosis of BP between 1998 and 2003 through our cutaneous immunofluorescence laboratory databases. The mortality of patients with BP was compared with that of age-matched control subjects in the general US population. RESULTS: The 1-, 2-, and 5-year mortality was 0.23 (95% confidence interval=0.18, 0.29), 0.37 (95% confidence interval=0.31, 0.44), and 0.50 (95% confidence interval=0.42, 0.57), respectively. However, relative to age-matched control subjects, no difference in expected mortality was detected. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective cohort analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality of patients with BP is more likely related to advanced age and associated medical conditions than to disease-specific factors.
Authors: Katherine E Brick; Chad H Weaver; Christine M Lohse; Mark R Pittelkow; Julia S Lehman; Michael J Camilleri; Mustafa Al-Hashimi; Carilyn N Wieland Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2014-04-03 Impact factor: 11.527