Pemphigus vulgaris

Alternative names:

pemphigus

Symptoms:

• skin lesions
  • recurrent or relapsing
  • blisters, flaccid
  • mouth ulcer or skin ulcers
  • deep
  • may drain, ooze, crust
  • located on the mucous membrane of the mouth
  • located on the scalp, trunk or other skin areas
  • spreading to other skin areas.
  • superficial skin peeling or detaching easily

Signs and tests:

• Nikolsky's sign is positive--when the surface of uninvolved skin is rubbed laterally with a cotton swab or finger, the skin separates easily.
• A skin lesion biopsy shows acantholysis.
• An examination of the biopsy tissue with immunofluorescence confirms pemphigus.
• The Tzanck test of a smear from the base of a blister shows acantholysis.