Pemphigus Erythematosus (Senear-Usher Syndrome)


Patient's Course
  • Prednisone 60mg/day for 4 weeks: no response
  • Predisone plus Azathioprine 150mg/day for 6 weeks: dramatic improvement
  • Key Aspects of Pemphigus Erythematosus
    onsetages 17-84
    M=F>
    clinical presentationerythematous plaques with vesicles, erosions or scale, or flaccid bullae
    laboratory evaluation+ pemphigus antibody
    sometimes + low titer ANA, homogenous or speckled
    immunofluorescenceIgG and Complement within intercellular spaces of the epidermis
    80% have IgG and C3 at the dermal-epidermal junction
    associated diseasesLupus Erythematosus
    Myasthenia Gravis
    Thymoma
    drug associationPenicillamine
    treatmentPrednisone +/- immunosuppressive agents
    Dapsone

    Differentiating Pemphigus erythematosus from Pemphigus foliaceus
  • lesions are restricted to seborrheic areas of face and trunk
  • presence of anti-nuclear antibody (most cases)
  • immunofluorescence reveals IgG and C3 at the dermal-epidermal junction.