Non-classical forms of pemphigus: pemphigus herpetiformis, IgA pemphigus, paraneoplastic pemphigus and IgG/IgA pemphigus.

The pemphigus group comprises the autoimmune intraepidermal blistering diseases classically divided into two major types: pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceous. Pemphigus herpetiformis, IgA pemphigus, paraneoplastic pemphigus and IgG/IgA pemphigus are rarer forms that present some clinical, histological and immunopathological characteristics that are different from the classical types. These are reviewed in this article. Future research may help definitively to locate the position of these forms in the pemphigus group, especially with regard to pemphigus herpetiformis and the IgG/ IgA pemphigus.

INTRODUCTION

Pemphigus is a group of life-threatening autoimmune intraepidermal blistering diseases caused by immunoglobulins directed against keratinocyte cell surface components and histologically characterized by acantholysis. Classically there are two major types of pemphigus: vulgaris (PV) and foliaceous (PF), in which IgG autoantibodies recognize desmossomal components desmoglein-3 (Dsg-3) and desmoglein-1 (Dsg-1) respectively.[1-3]

Since 1975 rare forms of pemphigus have however been described, presenting clinical, histological and immunopathological aspects that differentiate them from the classical vulgaris and foliaceus variants.[4]

This article reviews the current knowledge about these non-classical variants of pemphigus.

PEMPHIGUS HERPETIFORMIS

Since 1955, before immunological studies were available, there were a number of reports that clinically resembled dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) in patients, but which showed histological features of pemphigus with acantholysis.[5-7] Other cases were later described, which showed circulating and in vivo bound pemphigus antibodies.[8-10] In 1975, Jablonska et al.[11] described a similar case and proposed the name pemphigus herpetiformis (PH). These authors believed that it was a variant of pemphigus having a long course, with early atypical clinical and histological features, that could evolve into typical pemphigus if the patient did not receive appropriate treatment. In 1987, a review of 205 cases of pemphigus found 15 (7.3%) cases that were classified as PH, five of which also presented features of PF.[12] In 1996 Santi et al. described seven cases of PH that showed features of PF, or had disease that evolved into classic PF (five), fogo selvagem (FS) (one) and PV (two), and all of them presented antiepidermal autoantibodies that recognized Dsg-1.[13] This was the first recognized PH antigen.[13-15] Later, some reports also found antibodies against Dsg-3 or both DSg-1 and 3 and, more recently, desmocollin-1(Dsc-1) desmocollin-3 (Dsc-3) and an unknown 178-kDa protein.[16-20]

At present there seems to be some consensus on whether PH is a distinct entity, and most authors consider it to be different from the classic pemphigus variants because of its clinical peculiarity and benign course.[4,18-27] However, others have described it as a variant of PF or PV, given the fact that several patients with PH show features of or may evolve into having PF or PV, besides frequently presenting the same target cell surface antigens.[13,15] A recent study that has analyzed the Dsg-1 and Dsg-3 epitopes recognized by serum samples from cases of mucosal dominant-type PV and mucocutaneous-type PV over the disease course, also studied sera from 19 PH patients and 14 PNP cases, finding that PNP and PH show broader epitope distribution compared with the classical pemphigus.[25] This study concluded that the different autoantibody profiles between these diseases and PV may contribute to their unique clinic and histopathological characteristics.

DEFINITION AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

PH is characterized by clinical features that resemble DH and immunological and histological findings consistent with pemphigus. It is a rare pemphigus type, accounting for 6-7% of cases in some studies, that equally affects men and women, aged 31 to 83 years, with rare case reports during childhood.[21,28-31]

CLINICAL FEATURES

Patients with PH are rarely thought to have this diagnosis when they first seek medical care. Clinical presentation is usually atypical, and other diagnoses can be hypothesized, such as DH, bullous pemphigoid and linear IgA bullous dermatosis.[12] Patients usually show erythematous, gyrate, annular and edematous lesions, with clusters of small or abortive vesicles and/ or pustules, frequently in herpetiform pattern (Figure 1).[11] These features are not generally seen in PF and PV.[21] Mucous lesions are not a frequent issue, but can be present in some patients. Pruritus is frequently associated and might be severe.[4,11] Some patients can show eosinophilia in the blood.[12,32] PH can sometimes evolve into the classical forms of pemphigus (PV and PF).[4] The opposite has also been described in the literature.[11,33] Other cases can be initially misdiagnosed as other immunobullous diseases or as the classic variants of pemphigus, such as in one of the four PH patients of our outpatient clinic, who was initially thought to have PF due to the histopathologic and DIF results (Maehara L de S, et al. unpublished data). This female patient evolved years later with pruritic edematous plaques, with grouped vesicles and tense blisters. The histological exam and DIF revealed interstitial edema, vascular ecstasy and epidermal exocytosis of neutrophils and eosinophils, with intercellular deposits of IgG and C3.

FIGURE 1

Pemphigus herpetiformis: (A) patient presenting grouped vesicles, blisters, erosions and crusts onto an erythematous skin in a herpetiform pattern on her forearms; (B) similar lesions on her buttocks and back; (C) the same patient 10 days after pulse therapy with methylprednisolone (1 g/day for 3 days), showing a good clinical response; (D) histopathological exam of a forearm lesion showing suprabasal blister containing some acantholytic cels, neutrophils and eosinophils, besides focal eosinophilic spongiosis (HE 400x); (E) DIF of perilesional skin showing intercellular distribution of IgG and C3 throughout the entire epidermis

HISTOPATHOLOGY

The histological findings can vary among patients and one patient can present different histological features at different times or biopsies. More than one biopsy may therefore be necessary for diagnosis of PH.[11,12,34] Subcorneal pustules and/ or intraepidermal vesicles filled with neutrophils and /or eosinophils and neutrophilic and/ or eosinophilic spongiosis have already been described in those cases (Figure 1). Acantholysis may be minimal or absent.[4,35] Although this variant differs histologically from PF and PV due to these characteristic findings, the histologic patterns are widely heterogeneous: ranging from those with only spongiosis and inflammatory cells exocitosis to typical acantholysis.

IMMUNO-PATHOGENESIS

DIF is the same as the classic forms of pemphigus: intercellular deposits of IgG and C3 in the epidermis (Figure 1). Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or immunoblotting can show circulating antibodies against epidermal components, usually Dsg-1, and less commonly Dsg-3 , Dsc 1 and 3 and an unknown 178-kDa protein.[13-20] Although most cases show the same target antigens of the classic variants of pemphigus the consequences of the antibody binding are probably different, as PH autoantibodies may recognize functionally less important epitopes of Dsg-1 or 3 and therefore do not lead directly to acantholysis. It is thought that autoantibodies in PH may induce signaling pathway of cytokines (IL-8) production by keratinocytes that attract inflammatory cells to the tissue, with focal intercellular edema and eosinophilic spongiosis.[36,37] Another recent study may favor this hypothesis since it was found that that PH sera showed a broader epitope distribution compared with PV, which may contribute to its characteristic clinicohistopathological features.[25]

ASSOCIATIONS

Some diseases have been described together with PH, such as psoriasis, thyroid diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, HIV infection and malignancies: lung cancer, esophageal carcinoma, prostatic cancer and cutaneous angiosarcoma.[20,22,23,38-46] Some authors suggest the name paraneoplasic pemphigus herpetiformis, because of the parallel course of both diseases. However, IIF in rat bladder has not been evaluated by those reports and only two of them searched for the known paraneoplasic pemphigus antigens by immunoblotting.[22,45]

TREATMENT

PH usually has an indolent course and normally responds well to treatment, with a tendency to complete remission even with low doses of corticosteroids. Dapsone has been used with good results and may be given as monotherapy or in combination with systemic steroids. Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine and cyclophosphamide can also be used,[4] especially in cases evolving to the classical forms of pemphigus.[13] The PH patients of our outpatient dermatological clinic were treated with systemic steroids (0,5-1,23 mg of prednisone) together with dapsone. One patient, who presented with severe disease at the beginning, required pulse therapy with methylprednisolone (1 g/day for 3 days) together with azathioprine 150 mg/day (Figure 1). However, effective control was achieved only after the introduction of dapsone, and all drugs were then gradually discontinued without recurrence (Maehara Lde S et al., unpublished data).

IGA PEMPHIGUS

IgA pemphigus was first described by Wallach, Foldes, and Cottenot in 1982 under the name subcorneal pustular dermatosis and monoclonal IgA.[47] It is a group of autoimmune intraepidermal blistering diseases presenting with a vesiculopustular eruption, neutrophil infiltration, acantholysis and tissue-bound and circulating IgA antibodies targeting desmosomal or nondesmosomal cell surface components in the epidermis.[48] There are many synonyms for IgA pemphigus: intraepidermal neutrophilic IgA dermatosis, intercellular IgA dermatosis, intercellular IgA vesiculopustular dermatosis, intraepidermal IgA pustulosis, IgA pemphigus foliaceus, and IgA herpetiform pemphigus.[47,49-57]

EPIDEMIOLOGY

IgA pemphigus is a rare entity among the pemphigus diseases considering that only about 70 cases were reported up to 2010.[58] Its frequency is currently not defined, and its race distribution is also unknown. The sex distribution of IgA pemphigus reveals a maleto-female ratio of 1:1.33.[59] The age distribution is 1 month to 85 years old.[4]

The onset of IgA pemphigus is reported to be subacute.[59] There are two distinct types of IgA pemphigus: the subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD) type and the intraepidermal neutrophilic (IEN) type. Patients with both types of IgA pemphigus clinically present with flaccid vesicles or pustules on erythematous or normal skin. The pustules tend to coalesce to form an annular or circinate pattern with crusts in the central area (Figure 2A and B). The SPD type shows clinical features similar to those of SPD. The IEN type demon-strates a characteristic clinical feature, the so-called "sunflower-like" configuration. A herpetiform appearance has sometimes also been reported.[54] The sites of predilection are the axillary and groin areas, but the trunk and proximal extremities are commonly involved. About half of IgA pemphigus patients suffer from pruritus, and mucous membrane involvement is rare.[49,53,59,60]

FIGURE 2

IgA Pemphigus (IEN type): (A) and (B) vesicles, blisters, pustules and crusts confluent, occupying almost the entire trunk, neck and part of the upper limbs; (C) DIF: IgA deposits intercellular;( D) IIF showing presence of IgA in the patient´s sera (1:640)

Histopathologic examination of IgA pemphigus shows slight acantholysis and neutrophilic infiltration in the epidermis. Acantholysis in IgA pemphigus is much milder than that seen in classic pemphigus.[57] In the SPD type of IgA pemphigus, pustules are located subcorneally in the upper epidermis, whereas in the IEN type, suprabasilar pustules in the lower or entire epidermis are present. [49,53,61]

IgA deposition in the intercellular substance of the epidermis is detected in all cases of IgA pemphigus by DIF of perilesional skin, usually in a pattern similar to pemphigus IgG deposition (Figure 2C).[49,53-56,60,62] IgG or complement component C3 is also sometimes deposited but is weaker than IgA.[59] In the SPD type of IgA pemphigus, IgA deposition is limited to the upper epidermal cell surfaces , whereas in the IEN type of IgA pemphigus, there is intercellular IgA deposition restricted to the lower epidermis or throughout the entire epidermis.[54,60] IIF using patient sera and substrates such as healthy human skin or monkey esophagus shows the positive result in the cell-cell contact region in the entire epidermis in about 50% of patients (Figure 2D). The titers for autoantibodies are lower than that in classic pemphigus.[59] There are some reports of cases with presence of both IgA and IgG antibodies, which raises the question of whether pemphigus with both IgG and IgA autoantibodies is a subset of IgA pemphigus or not.[63] The subclass of in vivo-bound and circulating IgA autoantibodies has also been determined and is exclusively IgA1.[49,55,61] Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can be used for the diagnosis of IgA pemphigus and for detection of autoantibodies in individual patients.[64]

IgA pemphigus is a condition in which the IgA reaction to the keratinocyte cell surfaces is thought to be the leading pathogenic factor. The antigen of the SPD type was identified as Dsc-1, whereas the antigen of the IEN type is still unknown, although rare cases showed IgA antibodies to either Dsg-1 or Dsg-3.[65-72] There is no clear explanation for the mechanism by which IgA autoantibodies produce characteristic skin lesions in IgA pemphigus. IgA autoantibodies might bind to the Fc receptor CD89 on monocytes and granulocytes, resulting in accumulation of neutrophils and subsequent proteolytic cleavage of the keratinocyte cell-cell junction.[73] The other issue to be considered is the possible epitopespreading phenomenon, in which an inflammatory event releases new target antigens, exposes them to the immune system, and then induces subsequent autoimmunity to new related antigens.[74]

IgA pemphigus, particularly SPD-type, is reported to be associated with malignancies, including IgA gammopathy evolving into multiple myeloma.[75] In the cases reviewed by Wallach in 1992, six of the 29 patients had an associated monoclonal gammopathy of the IgA class, with k light chains in five of the six patients. Two gammopathies were benign, one patient had a B-cell lymphoma, and two patients had myeloma. In two patients, the monoclonal gammopathy developed only years after the onset of the dermatosis.[49] Other cases showed haematological malignancies including those of B-cell origin, while some cases were associated with solid tumours, such as lung cancer.[76,77] Gastrointestinal diseases may also be associated with IgA pemphigus: one case each of Crohn's disease and gluten-sensitive enteropathy have been reported.[49]

The small number of reported cases of IgA pemphigus disrupts the analyses of its effective treatments. The mainstays for treatment of IgA pemphigus are oral and topical corticosteroids, owing to the inflammatory nature of the disease.[78] The suggested corticosteroid dose is 0.5 to 1 mg/kg daily. In addition, dapsone usually at a dose of 100 mg daily may be very useful in treating IgA pemphigus due to its effect in suppressing neutrophilic infiltration.[49,53,54,69,79,80] Isotretinoin and acitretin are also reported to be useful for the treatment of IgA pemphigus.[81,82] Recently, mycophenolate mofetil and adalimumab, which are known to be effective in classic pemphigus, are also reported to be useful in treating IgA pemphigus.[83] Colchicine was also effective in one of two patients and has also been used during the treatment of one patient (IgA pemphigus, IEN type -Figure 2) of our outpatient dermatology clinic (university hospital) with good results, together with systemic steroids. Azathioprine, a commonly-used immunosuppressant in pemphigus, does not seem to be effective in treating IgA pemphigus.[49] Aggressive therapy with prednisone, cyclophosphamide and plasmapheresis has also been used for a recurrence after initial treatment with dapsone and prednisone.[52]

As a superficial blistering disease, IgA pemphigus usually heals without scarring if appropriate treatment is provided.[59,61] Although clinical data for its prognosis are still limited, the clinical presentation of IgA pemphigus seems to be milder and the course more benign than classic pemphigus. Recurrences of lesions have been noted after termination of treatment or reduction in drug dosage.[55] In those cases with an associated malignant IgA gammopathy, or other malignancies, the prognosis was related to the malignancy.

PARANEOPLASTIC PEMPHIGUS

In 1990, Anhalt et al. described five atypical pemphigus cases which were associated with lymphoproliferative disease. Anhalt called this disease paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP).[84] The term paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome (PAMS) was suggested later by Nguyen et al., given that is not a skin disease, but a syndrome characterized by the presence of mucocutaneous and non-cutaneous pathology associated with neoplasia.[85,86] In this article, we adopt the term PNP for historical reasons.

In the first description by Anhalt, PNP was defined as a new mucocutaneous acantholytic disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies (therefore named as pemphigus), in patients with neoplasia.[84] These antibodies were shown to be pathogenic after inoculation in mice.[85,87]

The exact incidence of PNP is not known. It is a rare form of pemphigus: around 450 cases have been reported in the literature.[88] It predominates in men of 45 to 70 years of age.[89] However, case reports of the disease in children exist, and in them PNP has a predilection for those of Hispanic origin.[90] There is an association with HLA class II DRB1*03 and HLA Cw*14 in the Chinese population, different from HLAs of risk for pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus (HLA DRB1*04 and DRB1*14).[91,92]

The typical initial manifestation is painful progressive stomatitis (Figures 3 and 4).[93,94] Cutaneous features of PNP are polymorphic, including vesicles, blisters, erosions, patches, papules and plaques. The Nikolsky sign may be absent.[86] The symptoms include the following:[85] (I) pemphigus-like: superficial vesicules, flaccid blisters, erosions and crusts, occasional and limited erythema; (II) bullous pemphigoidlike: scaling erythematous papules that may be associated or not wiht tense blisters; (III) erythema multiforme-like: polymorphic lesions, mainly scaling erythematous papules with erosions or occasionally ulcers with difficult healing; (IV) graft versus host disease-like: disseminated dusky red scaly papules; (V) lichen planus-like: small squamous flat-topped violaceus papules and intense involvement of mucosal membranes (Figure 4).

FIGURE 3

Paraneoplastic pemphigus: (A); ulcer in the side of the tongue, organ typically affected in paraneoplastic pemphigus. This patient also had erosions in the jugal mucosa and gingival enanthema. The diagnosis of an abdominal myofibroblastic tumor led to the suspicion of PNP, which was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence in rat bladder and immunoblotting. The patient was initially treated with prednisone and azathioprine, and later, rituximab, with improvement; (B) DIF of perilesional patient's skin showing intercellular and basement membrane zone staining (IgG, 10x); (C) IIF in transitional epithelium: positive test for a patient with PNP (rat bladder, 10x); (D) Immunoblotting (left) and immunoprecipitation (right): detection of antibodies directed against periplakin (190 kd) and envoplakin (210 kd) is a criterium for diagnosis

FIGURE 4

Paraneoplastic Pemphigus in patient presenting non-Hodgkin B-cell linfoma: (A) lesions affecting the lips and oral mucosa; (B) erosions on the back; (C) blisters on the hands; (D)histopathology showing suprabasal blister containing acantholytic cells (HE 40x); (E) closer view of the acantholytic cells and loss of intercellular cohesiveness (HE 400x); (F) DIF showing intercellular deposits of IgG and C3, and also linear deposits in the BMZ (DIF, 400x); (G) IIF (rat bladder) showing intercellular distribution of anti-IgG (1:320)

PNP lesions affect not only the oral mucosa, but also esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and colon.[95,96] Frequently, immunoglobulin and complement deposition in the pulmonary tissue is associated with bronchiolitis obliterans, leading to respiratory failure.[97] Association of PNP with glomerulonephritis and paraneoplastic neurological syndrome has also been reported.[98]

Owing to the clinical variety of PNP cases, differential diagnosis is suggested according to the predominance of the following clinical presentation:[99] (I) only oral lesions: PV, oral lichen planus, major aphthous stomatitis; (II) mucositis associated to lichenoid lesions: lichen planus; (III) cutaneous and mucosal lesions: erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, pemphigus vulgaris.

Differentiation from PV may be difficult because of the predominance of mucosal lesions. Czernik et al.[86] indicated characteristics for distinction: (I) in PV, there may be areas with healthy mucosa, while PNP is characterized by diffuse involvement of oral mucosa; (II) in PV, other mucosa such as conjunctiva are rarely involved, though involvement of other mucosa is more frequent in PNP; (III) in PV, palms and soles are spared, which generally does not occur in PNP; (IV) in PV, the scalp is frequently affected, while in PNP the scalp is spared; (V) in PV, the Nikolsky sign is present, however, this sign is absent in PNP. Mortality in PV varies between 5 and 10% with treatment, while it is much higher in PNP, independent of therapy.[97,100,101]

The major histopathological feature of PNP is vacuolar or lichenoid interface dermatitis pattern.[102] There may be intraepidermal cleft and acantholysis, or more rarely, subepidermal blisters.[86] The clinical variants also have their respective histological features:[86] (I) pemphigus-like: intra-epidermal cleft surrounded by mononuclear cells; (II) bullous pemphigoid-like: subepidermal cleft with or without basal cellular vacuolization, and moderate mononuclear infiltrate in dermo-epidermal junctions; (III) erythema multiforme-like: dyskeratosis without cleft or with areas of epidermal separation, due to basal cell disintegration, and distinct perivascular infiltrate; (IV) graft versus host disease-like: absence of epidermal separation, hyperkeratosis or hyperparakeratosis and dyskeratosis with or without vacuolar degeneration of basal cell layers and intense mononuclear interface dermatitis; (V) lichen planus-like: hypergranulosis, dyskeratosis and lichenoid mononuclear infiltrate.

This range of variations in clinical and histological features is due to the different mechanisms of pathogeny in PNP: it may be a B-cell mediated disease like pemphigus or a T-cell mediated disease like lichen planus.[85]

IMMUNOPATHOGENESIS

Although the origin of the disease is unclear, it is speculated that the immune response in PNP may have two origins: (I) immune response to neoplastic antigens with autoantibodies that cross-react to epithelial antigens, or (II) tumors which either synthesize pathogenic autoantibodies or deregulate the immune system by synthesizing cytokines, such as IL6, which promotes B-cell differentiation and levels of which are elevated in PNP and in Castleman's disease, leading to an autoimmune response.[99,103]

According to the definition based on the first cases, PNP is associated with neoplasia, and rare cases are described in which neoplasia was not identified.[84] Three neoplasias are commonly associated with PNP: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (42%), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (29%) and Castleman's disease (10%) (Figure 4). Other neoplasias described were thymomas (6%), sarcomas (6%) and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (6%).[99] In children, Castleman's disease is the leading associated neoplasia.[90]

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA

In 1990, Anhalt initially proposed five criteria for the definition of a PNP case: (1) painful mucosal erosions and polymorphous skin eruption in the context of a neoplasia; (2) histological changes (acantholysis, keratinocyte necrosis, interface dermatitis); (3) DIF showing IgG and complement deposition in intercellular substance and basement membrane zone; (4) IIF with the same deposition as for DIF, in skin, mucosa and simple, columnar, and transitional epithelium and (5) demonstration of serum antibodies through immunoprecipitation of a complex of four keratinocyte proteins (250, 230, 210 e 190 kd) (Figures 3 and 4).[84]

Subsequently, many authors proposed similar diagnostic criteria for PNP.[88,99,101] In 2004, Anhalt proposed minimal diagnostic criteria for PNP.[99] (1) clinical: painful progressive stomatitis with preferential involvement of tongue; (2) histological: acantholysis or interface dermatitis; (3) immunological: presence of antiplakin antibodies (at least periplakin and envoplakin). The pivotal criterium of PNP is autoantibodies directed against desmosomal plakin proteins: desmoplakin I (250 kDa), desmoplakin II (210 kDa), envoplakin (210 kDa), periplakin (190kDa), and α2macroglobulin-like-1 protein (170 kDa). In addition, autoantibodies against Dsg-1, Dsg-3, plectin and 230kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen can be detected.[104] These antiplakin antibodies should be revealed by immunoprecipitation or immunoblotting, in addition to positive IIF in monkey esophagus and rat bladder (Figure 3). Anti-Dsg-3 ELISA may also be positive - but this does not discriminate between PNP and other pemphigus variants (PV and PF). (4) Association with lymphoproliferative disorder: nonHodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia generally in cases with previous diagnosis (2/3 of cases), and Castleman's disease, abdominal lymphoma, thymomas or retroperitoneal sarcoma in cases with ocult neoplasia at the time of diagnosis of PNP (1/3 of cases).[99]

Patients with a diagnosis of PNP without previous diagnosis of a neoplasia - about 17% of PNP cases - must be investigated with complete blood count with differential leukocyte, serum protein electrophoresis, computerized tomography (chest, abdomen, and pelvis), and biopsies of bone marrow, lymph nodes, or solid tumor, according to indication.[86, 101]

The most widely suggested specific treatment combines prednisone (0.5-1.0 mg/kg) with cyclosporine (5 mg/kg), and may also include cyclophosphamide (2 mg/kg). However, the disease is generally resistant to therapy.[99,105] The mortality of patients with PNP is 75% to 90%.[101] Respiratory failure due to bronchiolitis obliterans is one of the most important causes of death in patients with PNP/PAMS.[85,97,99] However, a recent study, conducted in France, has made a valuable contribution to evaluating the prognosis of PNP.[101] The authors analysed patients from 27 different medical centers, demonstrating that the disease course is highly variable, not only in severe cases, but also in indolent disease, and that prognosis is worst in the presence of erythema multiforme-like lesions and of necrotic keratinocytes in histopathological exam. The conclusion of this study was a mortality of 51%, 59% and 69% in 1, 2 and 5 years, respectively. The lower mortality than previously found might be due to the inclusion of less severe cases due to a lower threshold, since diagnosis was made if 4 of the 7 criteria were met. These 7 criteria were based on the 5 criteria of Anhalt, adding the presence of neoplasia and indirect immunofluorescence in human skin as independent criteria.[84]

Rituximab may be indicated, especially because of association with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, though there are reports of complications and low therapeutic response.[105,106]

In general, treatment of neoplasia is not associated with improvement of PNP, except in cases associated to Castleman's disease.[107-109] Tumor resection or complete response to neoplasia treatment does not alter the progression of respiratory disease, although mucocutaneous lesions may heal.[110] Pulmonary disease, when present, is irreversible.[85,86,99] Although the complete mechanism of bronchiolitis obliterans is not elucidated, several authors have studied the characteristics of pulmonary disease, which might contribute for future therapy.[97,111,112]

IGG/ IGA PEMPHIGUS

Over the past thirty years, some atypical and typical cases of pemphigus have been described with the name IgG/ IgA pemphigus. In most of them an intercellular pattern of IgG and IgA (and sometimes also C3) was seen in the DIF. Nishikawa et al probably were the first to report in 1987, when they described an atypical PF case during the XVII World Congress of Dermatology.[113] Since then we have found another 14 similar case reports.[114-126] Two other articles that studied the frequency of IgA antibodies in different bullous diseases[127] and the autoantigens recognized by IgA anti-keratinocyte cell surface antibodies both describe another six not previously reported cases presenting with intercellular IgG and IgA in the DIF.[60] Three other cases were also called IgG/ IgA pemphigus, despite presenting negative DIF[128] or only intercellular IgG by DIF (but both intercellular IgG and IgA by IIF) or only intercellular IgA by DIF (but both intercellular IgG and IgA by IIF).[63,129] Two of these cases differ from all of the others by also showing IgG[63] or IgG and IgA in the BMZ by DIF.[124]

There appears to be no consensus on whether this is a unique form of pemphigus. Considering the previous reports, this form could be defined as a case showing IgG and IgA intercellular deposits in the DIF studies and/or IIF, showing clinical and histologic features that can resemble PF, PV, PH or IgA pemphigus or that does not look like any of these forms (atypical). The age of the patients from the reports ranged from 11 to 81 years. A Tunisian study found only one case of IgG/ IgA pemphigus among the 92 pemphigus patients evaluated during an 11-year period.[130]

However a recent study brings casts doubt on whether this is really a unique entity. Mentink et al tested the sera of 100 cases of pemphigus patients (34 PF, 58 PV and 8 PNP) in both anti-Dsg-1 and 3 IgA ELISA tests and 54 sera were found to have IgA to one or both Dsgs.[131] They also found that more than half of the cases that showed IgA anti-Dsg in the ELISA presented negative staining for IgA in IIF and/or DIF. The ELISA thereby seems a more sensitive assay than IIF analysis for detecting anti-Dsg IgA antibodies. Thus they concluded that, in a considerable number of supposedly IgG mediated pemphigus patients, IgA to Dsg-1 and Dsg-3 is also present and proposed that a spectrum with increasing IgA contribution may exist, ranging from the pure classical IgG forms via mixed IgG/IgA forms to pemphigus types with only IgA against Dsgs.

The clinical features of the reported cases are heterogeneous: PF- like, PV- like, PH-like, IgA pemphigus-like, or atypical/mixed cases.[60,63,72,114-131] Pruritus, pustules and annular lesions are present in almost half of the cases. Most of them do not show mucous lesions.

The reported cases also show multiple histological features, with acantholysis in almost half of them. The level of cleavage varies from subcorneal and intraepidermal (the most common pattern) to suprabasal bulla. Neutrophilic exocytosis is present in the majority of the reports, sometimes together with eosinophils and/ or spongiosis.

The case reports usually show IgG and IgA intercellular deposits in the DIF and/or IIF studies. Two cases deserve special note for also showing IgG or IgG and IgA in the BMZ by DIF: both presented with cutaneous and mucous lesions and subepidermal cleavage and were extensive investigated to exclude the possibility of malignancy.[63,124]

The cases are also heterogeneous concerning the target antigens: Dsg-1, Dsg-3, Dsc-1, Dsc-2, Dsc3, and Desmoplakin 1 and 2.[60,63,72,114-129]

The minority of cases were associated with other diseases: IgA-lambda monoclonal gammopathy, malignancy (lung cancer, ovarian carcinoma, carcinoma of the gall bladder and adenocarcinoma of the pancreas), benign liver cyst and ovarian tumour, gastric ulcers, positive lupus anticoagulant IgM and increased anticardiolipin antibody and antihypertensive drug use.[116-119,121-123,125,126] However, it is not clear if those are merely sporadic associations.

Most of the reported cases showed good response to dapsone, with or without systemic corticosteroids or to topical or systemic steroids alone. Other immunosuppressant drugs were required only in one case. Other drugs employed were acitretin, antimalarial and nicotinamide and minocycline.[116,122,123, 124]

CONCLUSION

This article has reviewed the knowledge about the nonclassical forms of pemphigus. Future research on the patho-physiology and the role of the target antigens may help to answer some questions that are still not clear, especially concerning the proper position of pemphigus herpetiformis and IgG/ IgA pemphigus in the pemphigus group.