title: Clinical analysis of patients with pemphigoid-like ophthalmological symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was a clinical analysis of patients with symptoms typical of pemphigoid.
  
  
  METHODS
  21 patients were enrolled on the study within the period 1988-2004. The frequency and type of ophthalmological and extraocular symptoms and accompanying diseases were assessed. The analysis also contains immunological findings as well as administered treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ophthalmological changes were detected in 100% of examined patients with pemphigoid. The most frequent were dry eye syndrome and conjunctivitis. Immunohistochemical tests revealed the presence of antibodies in 68.2% of the examined cases. All patients required specific treatment--local, general and surgical. Despite the administered therapy the development of cicatricial changes was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic conjunctivitis and keratitis require diagnostics into pemphigoid. Intensive therapy is necessary in patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) because of high risk of blindness. Delayed diagnostics disable immunohistochemical confirmation of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. j.mw@vp.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moneta-Wielgos
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kecik
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brydak-Godowska
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samsel
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drobecka-Brydak
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kecik
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007634:Keratitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010390:Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003176:Complement C3; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions