Pemphigus

Pemphigus is a rare autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes caused by antibodies against desmoglein proteins. There are three main types - pemphigus vulgaris affects the mouth and skin, pemphigus foliaceus affects the scalp and upper trunk, and paraneoplastic pemphigus is the most severe and associated with cancer. Diagnosis involves biopsy and detecting antibodies. Treatment aims to control the disease and involves high-dose corticosteroids sometimes with steroid-sparing immunosuppressants or other therapies like intravenous immunoglobulins or plasmapheresis.