STOMATOLOGIC MANIFESTATIONS OF PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS: A CASE REPORT

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by the formation of autoantibodies against desmosomes of keratinocytes, resulting in intraepithelial blisters. We report a case of a 70-year-old female patient presenting with widespread, painful, eroded, or ulcerated mucosal lesions with 3 weeks’ evolution. Nikolsky’s sign was negative. Incisional biopsy of a jugal mucosa lesion was performed, and histopathologic analysis revealed squamous epithelium showing acantholysis, with suprabasal clefts containing so-called acantholytic Tzanck cells. The diagnosis was PV, confirmed by direct immunofluorescence. Prednisolone (60 mg/once/daily) was prescribed for 15 days, with improvement of the condition, and further gradual dose reduction was carried out. The patient is undergoing follow-up for 20 months, with no oral or cutaneous manifestation of the disease. Although PV is a systemic disorder, oral manifestations often precede cutaneous manifestations and are the first signs of disease. Thus, dentists have a fundamental role in the early diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.