Study on Circulating Pemphigus Vulgaris Antibodies in First Degree Families of Patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris

Pemphigus is an autoimmune intraepidrmal blistering disease which involves both skin and mucous membranes with pathogenic mechanism of autoantibodies against desmosomes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate circulating antibodies in pemphigus vulgaris patients and to compare them with those in first degree families of patients with pemphigus vulgaris and control individuals. We performed indirect immunofluorescence test in 70 patients with pemphigus vulgaris and of their first degree relatives in dermatology clinic. Seventy patients with dermatologic problems other than pemphigus vulgaris were enrolled as control group. Then the results of the patients and their first relatives were compared with those of the control group. The mean age of the patients in our study was 41.14±12.57 years. The mean age of the first degree relatives and the control group was 39.04±15.43 and 36.61±13.51years, respectively. In total, 57.14% of the patients were female and 42.86% were male. There was no significant relationship between gender and incidence of the disease (P=0.232). Indirect immunofluorescence test was positive in 94.29% of the patients and in 11.43% of the first degree relatives. Significant relationship was observed between patients and their families and control group. Circulating pemphigus vulgaris antibodies in the first degree relatives of patients are more than those of the control group.