An unusual case of pemphigus vulgaris presenting as bilateral foot ulcers.
We describe an unusual presentation of pemphigus vulgaris, an autoimmune intraepidermal blistering skin disease associated with autoantibodies to the desmosome glycoprotein, desmoglein 3. A 60-year-old man presented with bilateral ulceration on the dorsum of the feet. These clinical features persisted for 4 months before more characteristic signs of pemphigus vulgaris, including mouth ulceration and skin erosions, developed. The atypical presentation led to a delay in diagnosis and initiation of the appropriate treatment. Pemphigus vulgaris may have unusual manifestations, such as nail dystrophy, paronychia, or granulation tissue-like lesions, but this case of bilateral foot ulceration highlights a further, perhaps unique, clinical presentation of this autoimmune disease.
Tan
H H
HH
National Skin Centre, Singapore.
Tay
Y K
YK
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003622:Dapsone; D011239:Prednisolone