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Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Technique of Conjunctival Biopsy and Direct Immunofluorescence for Diagnosing Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
Published on: June 17, 2025
Ocular surface involvement in pemphigus vulgaris: An interdisciplinary review
Omeed Memar1, Sayena Jabbehdari2, Benjamin Caughlin3
1Academic Dermatology & Skin Cancer Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
Purpose:
A review of the published literature on the history, pathogenesis, and treatment of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and its ocular involvement.
Methods:
Literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid), and google scholar for pemphigus vulgaris and ocular PV. Inclusion criteria were given to meta-analysis, case-controlled studies, and documented case reports. The data were examined and independently analyzed by more than two of the authors.
Results:
PV is a humoral autoimmune disease with a preponderance of IgG4 anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies. Upon antibody binding, there is an intracellular signaling mechanism that leads to blister formation. Ocular findings are seen in up to 16% of PV patients with conjunctivitis being the most common clinical presentation. New steroid-sparing agents have helped with the control of this deadly disease, and with better understanding of the pathogenesis of PV, other cytokine blockers currently available are promising steroid-sparing agents.
Conclusions:
Ocular pemphigus can occasionally present prior to mucocutaneous findings. Recalcitrant conjunctivitis with conjunctival blisters should warrant a workup for systemic PV.
