Advances in understanding and managing bullous pemphigoid

Cathy Y Zhao, Dedee F Murrell, Cathy Y Zhao, Dedee F Murrell

Abstract

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the commonest subtype of autoimmune blistering disease in most countries of the world. It occurs most frequently in elderly patients and is characterised clinically by large, tense blisters in the skin preceded by urticarial plaques and pruritus. Immunopathologically, it is characterised by autoantibodies directed against the 180 kD antigen (BP180) and the 230 kD antigen (BP230). New knowledge regarding BP is being continually uncovered. This article reviews the recent advances in BP, including newer diagnostic tests, standardised outcome measures and emerging therapeutic options, as well as the evidence supporting their use.

Keywords: Bullous pemphigoid; blisters; pruritus; urticarial plaques.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The senior author of the article (Dedee F. Murrell) was involved in the development and validation of the BPDAI mentioned in the article.

No competing interests were disclosed.

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