What is Bullous pemphigoid?
Bullous pemphigoid is a rare autoimmune skin disease that causes blisters and scarring in the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). The blisters are caused by an immune system attack on the body’s own tissues. The skin can also become thickened and discolored from blistering.
The condition most commonly affects older people, mainly women over 60, but it can affect anyone at any age. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person, as does how long they last and how often they occur.
The disease has also shown to increase the risk of several health complications including the increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
What are the symptoms of bullous pemphigoid?
Bullous pemphigoid blisters usually start out small, but they can grow larger and become painful as they fill with fluid and break open. The blisters often occur on your arms and legs or around your mouth or genitals. In some cases, they may affect other areas of your body such as your eyes or throat. The blisters are usually round and can be anywhere on the body. They may be painful. The blisters eventually break, leaving sores that take weeks to heal.
How to diagnose bullous pemphigoid?
Doctors may order a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. A biopsy involves taking a sample of tissue from your skin to look at under a microscope for signs of bullous pemphigoid.
When to see a doctor?
- If you have an itchy rash that does not go away after a couple of weeks
- If you have started developing liquid filled blisters (especially if they are painful)
- If you have blisters that go away and come back
- If your skin feels hot, swollen, thick, or red
- If your blisters are filled with pus or blood
What is the current common treatment?
Steroid treatments (glucocorticoid-based) are the common treatments available for bullous pemphigoid, however they have many side effects and questionable effectiveness. In addition, glucocorticoids increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, which is increased due to the disease itself.
Short-term Side effects of glucocorticoid-based treatment
- Weight gain
- Feeling very hungry
- Water retention or swelling
- Mood swings
- Blurred vision
- Feeling nervous or restless
- Trouble sleeping
- Muscle weakness
- Acne
- Stomach irritation
What Are the long-term Risks?
- Osteoporosis, when bones get weaker and break easily
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Cushing’s disease
New innovation in Bullous Pemphigoid treatment
Currently a new, innovative treatment is in its final stages of evaluation that will treat this disease without the use of glucocorticoids, reducing all the side effects and long-term risks caused by them. This treatment will improve the quality of life of the patients by also reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
We are proud to announce that there is a Croatian specialist in Zagreb who is a member of the international research team for bullous pemphigoid. Meet Dr.sc. Iva Dediol, an excellent dermatologist with an extensive clinical experience in the treatment of psoriasis, urticaria, atopic dermatitis and autoimmune dermatoses such as pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid.
Your chance of receiving this treatment now
Currently, we are screening potential patients that may receive regular screening and this treatment for free as part of the final stages of research in this new treatment.
Contact us for further information!
