title: Autoimmune blistering skin diseases.
abstract: Emergency physicians, at the front line of patient care, are often confronted with a wide variety of dermatologic conditions. Prompt recognition is essential, especially for the autoimmune blistering skin diseases, many of which have considerable morbidity and mortality. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is imperative for appropriate referral and initiation of therapy. This review article provides a concise yet thorough discussion of the clinical presentation, incidence, differential diagnosis and management of the commonly encountered autoimmune blistering skin diseases, some of which include pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cotell
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003874:Dermatitis Herpetiformis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D016107:Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009017:Morbidity; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013256:Steroids
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013256:Steroids