title: Paraneoplastic pemphigus: a case of prolonged survival.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a patient with severe, recalcitrant mucous membrane erosions and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case report and a literature review of paraneoplastic pemphigus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunofluorescence studies and immunoprecipitation confirmed the presence of autoantibodies characteristic of paraneoplastic pemphigus in the patient's serum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our patient lived almost 8 years after the onset of paraneoplastic pemphigus, the longest time that anyone with this disease is known to have survived.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical course of paraneoplastic pemphigus tends to be rapid and fatal despite immunosuppressive therapy. Long-term survival is uncommon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Florida 32224.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perniciaro
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kuechle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colón-Otero
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Spear
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pittelkow
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology