[Benign pemphigoid of the mucous membranes: the clinical and histopathological aspects in 20 patients].

Benign mucous membrane pemphigoid is an autoimmune vesiculo-bullous disease which affects the oral mucosa. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical and pathological features of 20 patients with benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. Four patients were men and 16 female with a mean age of 58 years. The ratio of male to female was 1:4. Seventy percent of patients showed gingival involvement. Other locations were buccal mucosa, palate and floor of the mouth. The majority of patients had ulcers covered by pseudomembranes, complained of pain and burning and 40% reported bleeding gums. Nikolsky's sign was observed in 60% of cases. In all cases microscopic features of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid showed a separation of epithelium from the connective tissue along the basement membrane (sub-epithelial bulla).