Refractory Bullous Pemphigoid in HIV-Infected Patient

• Main Author: I Thien, Chan
• Publication Date: 2018
• Other Authors: Fernandes, Mariana Rita de Novaes, Novello, Marcella D’Elia, Cabral, Fernanda, Bressan, Aline Lopes, Piñeiro-Maceira, Juan Manuel, Gripp, Alexandre Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: por
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: https://doi.org/10.29021/spdv.76.1.739
• topic: HIV Infections; Pemphigoid; Bullous; Rituximab; Infecções por HIV; Penfigóide Bolhoso; Rituximab

Bullous pemphigoid, the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease, is due to autoantibodies against BP180/230 present in the hemodesmosomes of the basal keratinocytes that typically causes pruritus and tense cutaneous bullae on an erythematous or normal skin It affects predominantly the elderly, often in association with neurologic or neoplastic disease. The association with the human immunodeficiency virus infection is rare. We present a case of a young VIH+ patient under antiretroviral therapy with undetectable viral load and normal CD4+ T-cell count who developed an extensive bullous pemphigoid refractory to pulses of corticosteroids, oral steroids and methotrexate and improved only after the infusion of rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody.