Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Sep 2:9:136.
doi: 10.1186/s13023-014-0136-2.

Gestational pemphigoid

Laura Huilaja  1 , Kaarin Mäkikallio, Kaisa Tasanen
Affiliations
Review

Gestational pemphigoid

Laura Huilaja et al. Orphanet J Rare Dis. .

Abstract

Gestational pemphigoid (pemphigoid gestationis, PG) is a rare autoimmune skin disorder occurring characteristically during pregnancy. Autoantibodies against placental BP180 (also known as BPAG2 or collagen XVII) cause damage to the skin basement membrane, resulting in severe itching and blistering rash over the body and the extremities. The diagnosis of PG is confirmed by immunofluorescence analysis of a skin biopsy, while serum levels of pemphigoid antigen BP180 antibody can be used to assess disease activity. PG with mild symptoms can be treated with topical corticosteroids, while oral corticosteroids are the mainstay in treatment of severe PG. PG usually flares up at the time of delivery, and resolves spontaneously shortly after. However, relapses in subsequent pregnancies are common. As PG has been linked to the risk of prematurity and fetal growth restriction, prenatal monitoring jointly by a dermatologist and an obstetrician is recommended. Mothers should also be informed of the potential risk of re-activation of the disease in subsequent pregnancies and during hormonal contraception.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Skin findings of gestational pemphigoid (PG). Urticarial papules and plaques usually appearing first on abdominal area (A). Minor umbilical lesions of PG (B). Vesicles (C) and bullae (D) following urticarial plaques. PG lesions on extremities (E-G).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Linear complement 3 (C3) (arrow) fluorescence in immunofluorescence analysis of perilesional skin biopsy is diagnostic for gestational pemphigoid. Primary magnification 200 × .
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Schmidt E, Zillikens D. Pemphigoid diseases. Lancet. 2013;381(9863):320–332. - PubMed
    1. Holmes RC, Black MM. The specific dermatoses of pregnancy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1983;8(3):405–412. - PubMed
    1. Nanda A, Dvorak R, Al-Saeed K, Al-Sabah H, Alsaleh QA. Spectrum of autoimmune bullous diseases in Kuwait. Int J Dermatol. 2004;43(12):876–881. - PubMed
    1. Bernard P, Vaillant L, Labeille B, Bedane C, Arbeille B, Denoeux JP, Lorette G, Bonnetblanc JM, Prost C. Incidence and distribution of subepidermal autoimmune bullous skin diseases in three French regions. Bullous Diseases French Study Group. Arch Dermatol. 1995;131(1):48–52. - PubMed
    1. Bertram F, Brocker E, Zillikens D, Schmidt E. Prospective analysis of the incidence of autoimmune bullous disorders in Lower Franconia, Germany. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2009;7(5):434–439. - PubMed