Epidemiologic observations on the natural course of pemphigus vulgaris.

BACKGROUND

During the last 20 years, few prospective studies on the natural course of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) have been performed.

METHODS

Various correlations of disease duration, clinical activity fluctuations, serology, and coexistence with other disease states were analyzed with regard to their impact upon the natural history of pemphigus. Thirty-seven consecutive PV patients were involved in this 1-year retrospective follow-up study.

RESULTS

The disease activity decreases with time, but when exacerbated it is of unpredictable intensity; skin involvement is equally distributed between the sexes; relapses occur mostly during the first 2 years after disease onset, and can be marginally predicted by autoantibody titers.

CONCLUSIONS

Notice should be taken of the relative frequencies of PV associated with neoplasia, ionizing radiation, and familial occurrence.