Pemphigoid gestationis with postpartum flare-up: a case report

Pemphigoid gestationis (PG), also known as herpes gestationis, is an uncommon autoimmune blistering disease that almost always occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy. The sudden emergence of the disease, its clinical appearance and the course create great stress on the pregnant woman and the fetus. The disease has been associated with premature delivery and small-for-gestational-age infants. Corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy.

A pregnant woman presented with a diffuse blistering and intensely pruritic urticarial plaques that occurred periumbilically and spread to the rest of the body. We report a well-documented case of PG and an overview of the current understanding of the disease.

A multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis, treatment and course of the disease from both dermatologic and gynecologic viewpoints is suggested.