[Bullous pemphigoid: diagnosis and therapy]

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Immunology
• Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most prevalent autoimmune bullous skin disease.
• It predominantly affects the elderly population.
• Clinical manifestations include tense blisters, eczematous lesions, and severe pruritus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the key aspects of bullous pemphigoid.
• To outline diagnostic methods and treatment strategies for BP.

Main Methods:

• Diagnosis relies on immunofluorescence microscopy.
• Confirmatory tests include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting.
• Identification of IgG autoantibodies against BP180 and BP230 is characteristic.

Main Results:

• Classical bullous pemphigoid is characterized by IgG autoantibodies targeting BP180 and BP230.
• Pemphigoid-like diseases such as mucous membrane pemphigoid, pemphigoid gestationis, and linear IgA disease are noted.

Conclusions:

• Effective diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid is achievable through immunofluorescence and serological tests.
• Treatment typically involves topical/systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents.