Clinical features of pemphigus

BACKGROUND Sepsis is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. The prevalence of this condition has increased significantly in different parts of the world. Patients admitted to dermatology wards often have severe loss of skin barrier and use systemic corticosteroids, which favor the development of sepsis. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the prevalence of sepsis among patients admitted to a dermatology ward compared to that among patients admitted to an internal medicine ward. METHODS It is a cross-sectional, observational, comparative study that was conducted at Hospital Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte. Data were collected from all patients admitted to four hospital beds at the dermatology and internal medicine wards between July 2008 and July 2009. Medical records were analyzed for the occurrence of sepsis, dermatologic diagnoses, comorbidities, types of pathogens and most commonly used antibiotics. RESULTS We analyzed 185 medical records. The prevalence of sepsis was 7.6% among patients admitted to the dermatology ward and 2.2% (p = 0.10) among those admitted to the internal medicine ward. Patients with comorbidities, diabetes mellitus and cancer did not show a higher incidence of sepsis. The main agent found was Staphylococcus aureus, and the most commonly used antibiotics were ciprofloxacin and oxacillin. There was a significant association between sepsis and the use of systemic corticosteroids (p <0.001). CONCLUSION It becomes clear that epidemiological studies on sepsis should be performed more extensively and accurately in Brazil so that efforts to prevent and treat this serious disease can be made more effectively.

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“…Pemphigus, which accounts for most admissions to the dermatology ward, have higher incidence among young adults and non-elderly. 7 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative study of the prevalence of sepsis in patients admitted to dermatology and internal medicine wards

Almeida

Diniz

Diniz³

et al. 2013

An. Bras. Dermatol.

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“…Pemphigus is a rare group of autoimmune blistering diseases that affect the skin and mucous membranes (1–4). Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is the most common subtype of the pemphigus group of diseases.…”

Section: Pemphigusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blistering disorders: diagnosis and treatment

et al. 2003

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Blistering diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders that can affect either skin and mucous membrane, or both, varying in presentation, clinical course, pathohistology, immunopathology and treatment. Not infrequently the diagnosis is delayed. This can result in severe, and sometimes fatal consequences. Although these diseases are rare, it is very important to make an accurate diagnosis based on a combination of clinical profile and laboratory observations. A brief review is presented of the following bullous diseases: pemphigus, paraneoplastic pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, dermatitis herpetiformis, linear IgA bullous disease, porphyria cutanea tarda, and subcorneal pustular dermatitis. Their clinical, pathohistologic and immunopathologic features and recommendations for therapy are discussed.

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“…Pemphigus encompasses a group of life‐threatening autoimmune blistering diseases 1–3 . Auto‐antibodies directed against epidermal keratinocyte desmosomal cadherins cause loss of adhesion between the keratinocytes (acantholysis), resulting in large‐scale blistering of the skin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%