Deafness complicating mucous membrane pemphigoid: a case report.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Dermatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a rare autoimmune blistering disease.
• It primarily affects mucosal surfaces, including the oral cavity, conjunctiva, and genitalia.
• Ocular and oral involvement are most common, but other sites can be affected.

Observation:

• A patient with moderately severe mucous membrane pemphigoid presented with hearing loss.
• The onset of deafness coincided with the development of postero-superior retraction pockets in both tympanic membranes.
• These findings suggest an unusual manifestation of the disease.

Findings:

• The study postulates that mucous membrane pemphigoid involved the middle ear mucosa.
• This involvement led to the formation of retraction pockets and subsequent hearing impairment.
• This specific complication has not been previously documented in medical literature.

Implications:

• This case highlights a previously undescribed complication of mucous membrane pemphigoid.
• It expands the spectrum of otologic manifestations associated with autoimmune blistering diseases.
• Further research is warranted to understand the pathophysiology and management of middle ear involvement in pemphigoid.