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Case Reports
. 2022 Jan;23(1):23.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10945. Epub 2021 Nov 4.

Influence of pemphigoid gestationis on pregnancy outcome: A case report and review of the literature

Caliopia Gavril Parfene  1 , Roxana Elena Bohiltea  1   2   3 , Bianca Margareta Mihai  3 , Corina Grigoriu  2   3 , Irina Margaritescu  4 , Aurel Doru Chirita  5 , Corina Aurelia Zugravu  6 , Dimitrie Pelinescu-Onciul  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Influence of pemphigoid gestationis on pregnancy outcome: A case report and review of the literature

Caliopia Gavril Parfene et al. Exp Ther Med. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Pemphigoid gestationis is considered to be a rare pregnancy exclusive bullous disease, which modifies the course of the pregnancy, with difficulties in the management of the pruritus and skin lesions as well as a possible change in the neonatal outcome. Differential diagnosis of skin lesions and pruritus in pregnancy is challenging, and complementary investigations such as skin biopsy or laboratory tests are indispensable. The correct diagnosis and proper treatment could change the natural course of a pregnancy at risk and could improve maternal and fetal morbidity. We present the case of a patient with pemfigoid gestationis with the aim to highlight: i) the management of this pregnancy-associated skin disorder which transfers this pregnancy into a category of high obstetrical risk pregnancy; ii) the particularities of the course of the pregnancy; and iii) the importance in the differential diagnosis of pregnancy dermatoses. The particularity of this case of pemphigoid gestationis was the acute fetal distress in the absence of intrauterine growth restriction that is frequently found in this pathology, and the management of a rare pregnancy skin condition that currently has no standard treatment.

Keywords: dermatoses of pregnancy; fetal growth restriction; pemphigoid gestationis; premature delivery; skin lesions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pemphigoid gestationis lesions occurring in the 32nd week of gestation: urticarial papules and plaques surrounding the umbilicus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of the skin biopsy. Conventional H&E histopathological staining shows perivascular dermatitis with lymphocytes and eosinophils, with superficial perivascular lymphocytic and eosinophilic infiltrate and interstitial eosinophilic infiltrate, with some eosinophils in groups located subepidermal (magnification x200).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Direct immunofluorescence of the skin biopsy shows linear and continuous deposit of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and C3 in the dermoepidermal junction, with no IgA, IgM or C1q deposits (magnification x200).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pemphigoid lesions persistent and exacerbated postpartum: blisters and plaques.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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