Oral Pemphigus Vulgaris

Pemphigus is a chronic mucocutaneous autoimmune disease with the clinical feature of blisters that initially appear in the oral cavity and later in the skin. The dental professionals play an important role in diagnosing the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment determine the course and prognosis of the disease. Systemic corticosteroids continue to be the standard therapy for pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Management of PV involves prolonged use of steroids to control the disease and prevent relapses, but associated adverse events constantly remain a great challenge. Regular periodic clinical evaluation of patients with pemphigus on steroids is mandatory. This article describes a case of a 50-year-old woman with multiple chronic ulcers in the oral cavity in whom the diagnosis of PV was made and treated. The case study is followed by a review of the literature including etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, as well as the various diagnostic criteria and the therapeutic options of PV.