title: A retrospective epidemiological study on the association of bullous pemphigoid and neurological diseases.
abstract: Bullous pemphigoid is a rare chronic recurrent dermatosis that is often reported in association with various neurological diseases. No investigation involving a large number of patients has ever been carried out to demonstrate such an association. This study was accomplished by analysing the discharge diagnosis of all hospitalized patients, both day-patients and inpatients, during a 5-year period (1995-2000) covering a total population group of 934,023 living in a region of Italy that has approximately 1,200,000 inhabitants. The results support the hypothesis of an association between bullous pemphigoid, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease on a highly significant statistical basis. The aetiopathogenic mechanisms and the causes that induce the loss of immunological tolerance are not yet understood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Pathology and Medicine, DPMSC Institute of Dermatology, University of Udine, 33013 Gemona del Friuli, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stinco
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Codutti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scarbolo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valent
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patrone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications*; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*