Gingival manifestations of childhood cicatricial pemphigoid

Cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) is found almost exclusively among middle-aged and elderly persons. This article describes a rare case of CP in a 14-year-old girl; it appeared on the mandibular anterior gingiva as desquamative gingivitis. Histologic examination of the lesions showed a subepithelial bulla. Immunofluorescence of gingival biopsy revealed immunoglobulin G, protein C3, and faint immunoglobulin A deposition along the basement membrane zone; results for normal skin were negative. Indirect immunofluorescence produced negative results. There are only six documented cases of childhood CP previously reported in the literature. The clinical and immunologic features of these cases are reviewed.