Background and Objectives: PEMPHIGUS is an autoimmune intraepidrmal blistering disease which involves both skin and mucous membranes with pathogenic mechanism of autoantibodies against desmosomes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate circulating antibodies in PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS patients and to compare them with those in first degree families of patients with PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS and control individuals.Materials and Methods: We performed indirect immunofluorescence test in 70 patients with PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS and of their first degree relatives in dermatology clinic. Seventy patients with dermatologic problems other than PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS were enrolled as control group. Then the results of the patients and their first relatives were compared with those of the control group.Results: The mean age of the patients in our study was 41.14±12.57 years. The mean age of the first degree relatives and the control group was 39.04±15.43 and 36.61±13.51years, respectively. In total, 57.14% of the patients were female and 42.86% were male. There was no significant relationship between gender and incidence of the disease (P=0.232). Indirect immunofluorescence test was positive in 94.29% of the patients and in 11.43% of the first degree relatives. Significant relationship was observed between patients and their families and control group.Conclusion: Circulating PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS antibodies in the first degree relatives of patients are more than those of the control group.

Background: The Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system has been recognized as an important pathway for apoptosis induction in cells and tissues. It has recently been shown that skin lesions of PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS are associated with Fas mediated apoptosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of serum soluble Fas of ten newly diagnosed patients with PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS.Methods: Sera were collected from ten patients with PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS.Commercial sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitative detection of soluble Fas was applied.Results: Patients with mucosal skin involvement had higher median values in contrast to patients with cutaneous involvement.Conclusion: Elevation of soluble Fas in our study may give insights for the pathogenesis of PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS. Suppression of this underlying mechanism may be an important target for novel therapies and relapse prevention.

INTRODUCTION: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (A L S) i s a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the upper and lower nervous system.1.5–2 cases per 100, 000 persons develop ALS each year.

PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disorder of the skin and mucous membranes. The transplacental passage of maternal immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies to desmoglein-3 (a transmembrane glycoprotein component in the skin) from the mother’ s blood to the fetus can cause transient PV in the neonatal period. The duration of PV is short in the neonatal period, and the disease is improved with no prolonged sequelae. The similarity of skin lesions in PV to other skin conditions, such as infectious diseases caused by bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens, or inherited bullous disorders, such as epidermolysis bullosa and incontinentia pigmenti, leads to misdiagnosis, inappropriate hospital admission, and poor antimicrobial treatment of patients. On the other hand, the maternal history of PV, besides laboratory examination, confi rms the exact diagnosis. In this case report, we present a male term neonate with multiple pustules and blisters on the skin, developed within the fi rst hours of life. The patient was admitted to the neonatal ward of our hospital for a sepsis workup and antibiotic treatment. Regarding the positive maternal history of PV in the second trimester of pregnancy and neonatal examinations skin biopsy confi rmed the diagnosis of this disease.

Background & Aim: PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS (PV) with painful blisters and erosions on skin and mucosa can significantly impair patient’s social life. There are few studies that have focused on the socioeconomic status (SES) of these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the SES of newly diagnosed PV patients who were referred to our clinic.Methods & Materials: A total of 153 patients with PV participated in this case–control study. Among them, 58 patients had the disease for<1 year. The control group was 70 patients without immunobullous diseases who were selected from general clinic. A Persian questionnaire was used for evaluation of SES along with demographic characteristics and disease-related information.Results: Level indicator of the family socioeconomic was 13.10±6.08 (range 6-28) and 19.32±6.24 (range 9-33) in the case and control groups, respectively. The difference between these two groups was statistically significant (P ˂ 0.00100). There was an association between socioeconomic level and forbearing of some of their diagnostic or treatment process (P=0.00900). Comparison between patients from urban and rural area showed that patients from rural area had significantly lower level of socioeconomic (P=0.00698). Comparing new onset PV patients with those with disease>1 year did not show any significant difference (P=0.41000).Conclusion: SES of PV patients was significantly lower than controls, and this difference was not related to disease duration. This situation was more significant in rural patients. Hence, by recognizing these groups, we could help them more effectively.

Background and Objectives PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS (PV) is a chronic, rare mucocutaneous autoimmune bullous disease characterized by flaccid blisters and or pustules, with secondary erosions of the mucous membranes or skin. PV threatens the patient life by forming splits within the epidermis, accompanied by acantholysis (separating keratinocytes from each other). Case Presentation Our case is a term female neonate with PV, born of a 31-year-old mother. On initial examination by a pediatrician, several thin-walled flaccid blisters and burst blisters accompanied with open sores were observed on the skin of hands, feet, face, and mucosa of the oral cavity, tongue, and throat. A positive Nikolskychr('39')s sign confirmed her involvement with the disease

Introduction: PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS is a chronic vesicular and autoimmune disease that involves the skin and mucosal membranes. The prevalence is low and drugs used for treating PEMPHIGUS have a lot of side effects. It has been suggested that homeopathy may be helpful in treating PEMPHIGUS conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of homeopathy in treatment of PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS patients. Report of Cases: A total of 12 new patients were identified over 1.5 year period. Those who did not used any drug for treatment of their PEMPHIGUS. Seven patients volunteered to be treated by homeopathy. Homeopathy treatment was applied for four weeks during the waiting period until biopsy confirmation report was received. No drug was used over this period in order to evaluate the efficacy of homeopathy alone. By the end of homeopathy treatment, patients were evaluated regarding the number of lesions, amount of pain and their wellness. According to the findings, two patients had prominent remission and six of them reported feeling better and had less pain. It seems that homeopathy does not have the expected efficacy of conventional therapy in controlling PEMPHIGUS conditions, but it may be used together with conventional treatment in order to reduce pain, dosage of corticosteroid medication used and also facilitates patients' recovery. In conclusion, further studies are required in order to determine the value of homeopathy more accurately when treating PEMPHIGUS conditions.