Bullous Skin Lesions

Abstract

Pemphigus vulgaris is a bullous skin disease which also involves the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract. The onset of the disease is between 40 and 60 years of age. Antibodies bound to the epithelium are usually found in this condition and their presence helps in the diagnosis. Histologically the bullae are characterised by a split between the basal and malpighian layers of the epidermis, with loss of intercellular bridges resulting in acantholytic epidermal cells. Lesions of pemphigus have been described on the posterior surface of the epiglottis accompanying the more usual skin and mouth lesions (Charow et al. 1971).