Pemphigus vulgaris and pregnancy: risk factors and recommendations

Pemphigus vulgaris during pregnancy is exceedingly rare; only 15 cases with immunopathologic confirmation have been reported. In the four cases associated with fetal mortality the mother's disease was active and required high doses of corticosteroids and adjuvant therapy with azathioprine or dapsone for control. A pregnant woman with limited disease is described. At the time of delivery her pemphigus vulgaris antibody titer was 1:640. A full-term, healthy male infant was completely free of skin lesions after a spontaneous vaginal delivery.