Penile pemphigus.

BACKGROUND

Penile skin involvement in patients with pemphigus vulgaris has been rarely reported. This study describes the involvement of penile skin in 12 patients with pemphigus vulgaris.

OBSERVATIONS: Of the 12 patients, 10 had involvement of the skin and mucous membranes. Two patients had involvement of the oral mucosa only and no cutaneous involvement. None of the patients had urethral involvement. We did not observe isolated involvement of penile skin only, in the absence of disease elsewhere. Using monkey esophagus as substrate, all the patients had detectable levels of antibodies to keratinocyte cell surface antigen(s) in their serum samples. Since histological, serological, and clinical evidence of pemphigus was present, biopsies of the penile skin were not done. Topical therapy was concomitantly used with systemic therapy. Once treated and resolved, recurrence of penile lesions was not observed during the long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Involvement of penile skin is rare and was observed with the presence of pemphigus lesions in other areas of the body. Lesions involving the penile skin were most commonly seen on the glans. No sequelae or functional abnormalities were observed on long-term follow-up.