Prodromal bullous pemphigoid.
BACKGROUND
Prodromal bullous pemphigoid (PBP) can be difficult to diagnose. Early recognition in its early stages may decrease the morbidity and progression of the disease. Clinical presentations and current treatments available for PBP will be described.


METHODS
A retrospective review was performed on 53 patients diagnosed with PBP.


RESULTS
Overall, the average disease duration of PBP was 11.8 months. The average age of presentation of PBP was 70.8 years. The most common presentations were urticaria-like plaques (67.9%), eczema-like lesions (11.3%), and dermatitis herpetiformis-like lesions (9.4%). The majority of patients responded well to low doses of systemic corticosteroids, tetracycline, and/or high potency topical corticosteroids.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with PBP tend to be in their sixth or early seventh decade of life and, on average, the duration of disease is 1 year. The most common presentation of disease is urticaria-like plaques.
Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15240, USA.
Philina M
PM
Lamb
Edward
E
Abell
Michael
M
Tharp
Roy
R
Frye
Jau-Shyong
JS
Deng
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003176:Complement C3; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003176:Complement C3; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013752:Tetracycline; D004318:Doxycycline