RESUMO
The pemphigus diseases, which include some of the most severe bullous autoimmune skin reactions, are seen predominantly in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Only endemic pemphigus foliaceus in South America most frequently affects juveniles and children. All non-endemic pemphigus diseases, including paraneoplastic pemphigus, have been reported to occur in adolescents and even very rarely in children younger than 10 years. Pemphigus vulgaris in pregnancy represents a frequently overseen medical problem and may result in fetal growth retardation, intrauterine death, premature delivery and - in about 30% - in neonatal pemphigus vulgaris of the newborn. Contrary to pemphigus vulgaris, the transplacental crossing of autoantibodies against desmoglein1 in pregnant women with pemphigus foliaceus hardly ever leads to neonatal skin lesions in the offspring. This phenomenon can be explained by differences in the distribution and cross-compensation of the pemphigus antigens desmoglein3 and 1 in neonatal and adult skin or mucosa, respectively.
Assuntos
Pênfigo/diagnóstico , Aborto Espontâneo/imunologia , Adolescente , Autoanticorpos/sangue , Brasil , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Desmogleína 1/imunologia , Desmogleína 3/imunologia , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Doenças Endêmicas , Feminino , Alemanha , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Troca Materno-Fetal/imunologia , Síndromes Paraneoplásicas/diagnóstico , Síndromes Paraneoplásicas/imunologia , Pênfigo/imunologia , Gravidez , Complicações na Gravidez/diagnóstico , Complicações na Gravidez/imunologiaRESUMO
Most of the clinical, histological and immunohistological features of fogo selvagem resemble those of idiopathic pemphigus foliaceus (PF). Both diseases are clinically characterized by small flaccid bullae evolving into to scaly and crusted lesions, sometimes with pustules, mainly in seborrheic areas of the skin. Mucosal surfaces are mostly spared. The main histologic feature of endemic pemphigus foliaceus is a subcorneal acantholytic blister. Standard immunofluorescence studies demonstrate intercellular IgG deposits throughout the entire epidermis. These IgG antibodies are mainly of the IgG4-subclass. Almost all patients have circulating IgG-autoantibodies in their serum directed against stratified epithelial desmosomes. The fogo selvagem autoantibodies and the PF antibodies are directed against the 160 kD desmosomal glycoprotein desmoglein 1 which together with plakoglobin (85 kD) forms a complex of adhesion proteins with desmosomes of stratified epithelia. Fogo selvagem occurs in endemic foci in some areas of Brazil and possibly in neighbouring South American countries, very often in children, adolescents and young adults. The etiology of fogo selvagem is still unknown. The frequent association with insect bites has lead to the concept of fogo selvagem being a transmissible disease with acquired immunity in adulthood. However, the infectious agent and possible vectors have not yet been identified.