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Updated: Oct 14, 2025

Technique of Conjunctival Biopsy and Direct Immunofluorescence for Diagnosing Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
Published on: June 17, 2025
Childhood Vulvar Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
Ignasi Marti-Marti1, Daniel Rizo-Potau1, Sara Gómez1
1Department of Dermatology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, CAPSBE, Barcelona, Spain.
Background:
Autoimmune bullous diseases in childhood are a diagnostic challenge.
Case:
We present the case of an 11-year-old girl with recurrent vulvar erosions since early childhood. She had been referred to a child abuse unit under the suspicion of sexual abuse. She responded well to dapsone and topical corticosteroids.
Summary And Conclusion:
Our review focuses on previously reported cases of pemphigoid (bullous or mucous membrane) in childhood with exclusively genital involvement. We also summarize mucous membrane pemphigoid cases diagnosed during childhood. There seems to be a differentiated form of pemphigoid predominantly affecting girls with exclusively vulvar involvement and with good prognosis. Dermatologic evaluation and a skin biopsy with direct immunofluorescence are key to diagnosing a mucous membrane pemphigoid. Further antigenic studies are needed to nosologically classify the disease properly.
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