title: Analysis of 6 cases of drug-induced pemphigus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study clinical and laboratory characteristics of drug-induced pemphigus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using direct immunofluorescence (IF), indirect IF, ELISA and immunoblotting to characterize 6 patients with drug-induced pemphigus (DIP) and compared them with 20 cases of idiopathic pemphigus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the 6 cases of DIP showed obvious itching (100%) and no damage to the oral mucosa. Five out of 6 DIP cases (83.33%) presented as pemphigus folicaeus (PF) since they contained circulating Dsg1-specific IgG, were sensitive to low doses of glucocorticoid, and had good prognosis. One case was showed as pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Dsg1-specific IgA was positive in peripheral blood of 4 cases (66.67%), and the antibody disappeared after treatment. In patients with idiopathic pemphigus, only 6 cases (30%) had mild itching, and 12 cases (60%) had oral mucosal lesions. Twelve cases (60%) were PV with anti-Dsg1 and -Dsg3 antibodies, and 8 cases (40%) were PF with anti-Dsg1 antibody only. One case (5%) had anti-Dsg1 IgA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drug factors should be considered for pemphigus as some common antibiotics can cause pemphigus.
authors.affiliation: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China. fengsuying@medmail.com.cn
authors.forename: Suying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Wuqing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jiechen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peiying
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002216:Captopril / Q000009:adverse effects; D002506:Cephalexin / Q000009:adverse effects; D002515:Cephradine / Q000009:adverse effects; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D012293:Rifampin / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000658:Amoxicillin; D002216:Captopril; D002515:Cephradine; D010396:Penicillamine; D002506:Cephalexin; D012293:Rifampin