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Drug-Induced Pemphigus

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European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments

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Abstract

Pemphigus comprises a group of autoimmune bullous diseases characterized by acantholysis (loss of adhesion between keratinocytes) that results in the formation of intraepithelial blisters in the skin and mucous membranes. Multiple drugs are reported to induce pemphigus, most commonly thiol drugs. The mechanisms include autoantibody formation and direct acantholysis. The diagnosis of drug-induced pemphigus is challenging. Patients are often on multiple medications, and the latency period between exposure and onset of disease can be variable. Withdrawal of an offending drug may lead to remission or reduced disease severity in many patients.

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Abbreviations

HLA:

Human leukocyte antigen

IL-1:

Interleukin-1

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor alpha

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Author information

Author notes

  1. N. Farah Mahmood, Atheer Al-Haddabi, and Dushyanth Gnanappiragasam contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Nazipha Farah Mahmood, Atheer Al-Haddabi, Dushyanth Gnanappiragasam & Karen Elizabeth Harman

  2. Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Essex, UK

    Olga Golberg

Authors
  1. Nazipha Farah Mahmood
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  2. Atheer Al-Haddabi
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  3. Dushyanth Gnanappiragasam
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  4. Olga Golberg
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  5. Karen Elizabeth Harman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen Elizabeth Harman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Andreas Syggros Hospital, Athens State University, Athens, Greece

    Andreas D. Katsambas

  2. Research Center CSRMR, Marconi University, Rome, Roma, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  3. Andreas Syggros Hospital, Athens State University, Athens, Greece

    Clio Dessinioti

  4. Dermatoloy Unit, Livorno Hospital, Livorno, Italy

    Angelo Massimiliano D'Erme

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Mahmood, N.F., Al-Haddabi, A., Gnanappiragasam, D., Golberg, O., Harman, K.E. (2023). Drug-Induced Pemphigus. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D'Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_70

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_70

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-15129-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-15130-9

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