Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022 Apr 30;15(5). Epub 2022 Apr 30.

Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.

Checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) represent a novel therapeutical strategy with a high efficacy both in solid and hematological cancers. They act by reactivating the immune system against neoplastic cells but may, in turn, cause immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) involving several organs with variable frequency and severity. Up to 10% of CPI-treated patients experience hematological IRAEs, mainly cytopenias. Read More

Dermatol Ther 2022 May 2:e15547. Epub 2022 May 2.

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Topical medications are one of the main treatments for psoriasis. Adherence to treatment is an important factor in achieving successful control of disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to topical drugs and identify possible associated factors in in patients with psoriasis. Read More

Australas J Dermatol 2022 May 2. Epub 2022 May 2.

Department of Dermatology-Venereology, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid is a common autoimmune blistering skin disease that is significantly associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality.

Objective: Our aim was to determine the 1-, 2- and 3-year mortality rate and standardized mortality ratio of BP in Moroccan patients, as well as to identify risk factors that influence survival both in the 1st and 3rd year of follow-up.

Methods: All patients with BP diagnosed between January 2008 and December 2017 in a tertiary referral centre at the Mohammed V Military Hospital in Morocco were included retrospectively. Read More

J Dermatol 2022 Apr 27. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Department of Dermatology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan.

Many cases of bullous pemphigoid (BP) have been reported in patients taking dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), which are the most widely used antidiabetic drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, no large-scale survey has been conducted in Japan. This retrospective study investigated the incidence, clinical presentation, and clinical course of DPP-4i-associated BP (DPP-4i-BP) using epidemiological data from a nationwide registry for BP. Read More

Life (Basel) 2022 Apr 18;12(4). Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Clinical Medicine Department, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain.

The incidence of autoimmune bullous disorders has increased over the years, especially in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities, which has stimulated research into their association with other diseases. We performed a retrospective observational study used the Minimum Basic Data Set of hospital discharges to review records of patients admitted to Spanish public hospitals between 2016 and 2019 with a diagnosis of any autoimmune bullous disorder. The objectives were to describe the comorbidity profile and the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of patients with pemphigus and pemphigoid, and analyze the evolution of the incidence of these diseases. Read More

PLoS One 2022 15;17(4):e0264705. Epub 2022 Apr 15.

Department of Dermatology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Gansu, China.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the prognostic factors for mortality in bullous pemphigoid.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine disc and Wanfang Database were searched to collect literature on the prognostic factors for mortality in bullous pemphigoid. The quality of studies was assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022 Mar 28. Epub 2022 Mar 28.

Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Certain anti-diabetic agents have been linked to the development of bullous pemphigoid (BP). However, the relationship between BP and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) remains inconclusive.

Objective: To investigate the association between SGLT2i usage and BP. Read More

Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat 2022 Mar;31(1):7-11

Department of Dermatology, Mohammed V Military Training Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.

Background: Comorbidities of bullous pemphigoid (BP) have not been thoroughly described in Morocco. This study investigates clinical features, comorbidities, and medications in a cohort of Moroccan patients with confirmed BP to help decrease morbidity and mortality.

Material And Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 81 cases of BP diagnosed in 2015-2018 and 162 age- and sex-matched controls with complete follow-up at the Department of Dermatology in a university hospital setting. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 3;13:843480. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmune blistering disease, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is relatively high in subjects with BP. It is known that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i), one kind of antidiabetic drugs, can cause BP, although precise mechanism of DPP-4i-related BP remains unclear. In this report, we showed a case with appearance of various disease-specific antibodies after the onset of DPP-4i-related BP. Read More

Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022 Mar 1;75:103420. Epub 2022 Mar 1.

Internal Medicine Consultant, Medical Specialties Department, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction And Importance: Messenger RNA vaccines, commonly known as mRNA vaccines, are the first COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized and licensed in the United States. Two mRNA vaccines, BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) are available. Mass vaccination remains the most critical way to halt the spread of the COVID pandemic. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2022 07 1;87(1):56-63. Epub 2022 Mar 1.

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Electronic address:

Background: Recently, several case-control studies demonstrated an association between gliptins and bullous pemphigoid (BP) occurrence. However, data on the clinical and immunologic features of gliptin-associated bullous pemphigoid (GABP) are controversial.

Objective: This study aimed to clinically and immunologically characterize a large cohort of GABP patients to get an insight into the pathophysiology of this emerging drug-induced variant of BP. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2021 Dec;9(34):10430-10437

Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Dermatology Research, Urumqi 830001, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune intestinal disease caused by the intake of gluten-containing cereals and their products by individuals with genetic susceptibility genes. Vitiligo is a commonly acquired depigmentation of the skin; its clinical manifestation are skin patches caused by localized or generalized melanin deficiency. Both diseases have similar global incidence rates (approximately 1%) and are associated to similar diseases, including autoimmune bullous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune thyroiditis, autoimmune gastritis, and type 1 diabetes. Read More

J Transl Med 2021 12 20;19(1):520. Epub 2021 Dec 20.

Institute of Dermatology, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune bullous skin disease that affects primarily patients older than 60 years. The majority of BP cases are spontaneous, but BP can also be triggered by certain drugs' exposures. Since 2011, a growing number of observations has been reporting cases of BP in Type 2 diabetic patients. Read More

CJC Open 2021 Oct 12;3(10):1316-1319. Epub 2021 Jun 12.

Department of Internal Medicine (consultant), Richmond General Hospital, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

Rivaroxaban is commonly used for prevention of thromboembolic diseases in patients with atrial fibrillation. We report a case of an 86-year-old man with hypertension, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and atrial fibrillation who developed bullous eruptions 1 week after a rivaroxaban dose increase. He was subsequently hospitalized, and direct immunofluorescence confirmed bullous pemphigoid (BP). Read More

Cureus 2021 Oct 22;13(10):e18973. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Dermatology, Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, PAK.

Introduction The clinicopathological description of dermatological manifestations of COVID-19 leaves much to be desired. There is a need to determine their association with disease severity, outcome, and other clinical variables. Objectives The objectives of this study are to record and histopathologically examine the cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 and correlate these to age, disease severity, and mortality. Read More

World J Diabetes 2021 Sep;12(9):1426-1441

Department of Endocrinology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) have an important place in the management of type 2 diabetes. The DPP-4 enzyme is ubiquitously distributed throughout the human body and has multiple substrates through which it regulates several important physiological functions. DPP-4 regulates several immune functions, including T-cell activation, macrophage function, and secretion of cytokines. Read More

Nephrol Ther 2021 Dec 8;17(7):547-551. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Service de néphrologie, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, R. Beneficência 8, 1050-099 Lisboa, Portugal.

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune bullous cutaneous disease. We report the case of a 60 year-old male patient whose kidney allograft failed and was on hemodialysis for the previous 16 months. After tapering immunosuppressive medication, he presented simultaneous bullous eruption and kidney allograft intolerance syndrome. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2021 Sep 29;22:e932356. Epub 2021 Sep 29.

Department of Internal Medicine, Roger William Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA.

BACKGROUND Bullous pemphigoid is a common pruritic skin lesion reported in elderly patients. It is caused by an immunologic reaction between autoantibodies and hemidesmosome proteins of epithelial cells. The disease is characterized by a symmetrical blister distribution on the body. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2021 Aug 16. Epub 2021 Aug 16.

Department of Dermatology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.

Background: There is currently limited population-based data on the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on bullous pemphigoid (BP) inpatients.

Aims: To evaluate the relative comorbidities, medical complications, and mortality rates between BP inpatients with and without T2DM.

Methods: All inpatients with a primary BP diagnosis in the National Inpatient Sample from 2003 to 2012 were queried. Read More

Am J Clin Dermatol 2021 Nov 21;22(6):891-900. Epub 2021 Jul 21.

Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Tucson, AZ, USA.

Background: In recent years, an association between dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and bullous pemphigoid has been detected in pharmacovigilance studies in European and Asian countries; however, no pharmacovigilance data have been published yet in the USA.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between bullous pemphigoid and DPP-4 inhibitors and other oral diabetes mellitus medications in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

Methods: Case/non-case analyses were performed in the FAERS using data from 2006 to 2020 to examine the reporting odds ratio (ROR) signal for bullous pemphigoid for all classes of oral diabetes medications. Read More

Dermatol Ther 2021 09 14;34(5):e15032. Epub 2021 Jul 14.

Department of Specialized, Clinical and Experimental medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Italy.

Autoimmune bullous diseases are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by the development of cutaneous and mucosal vesicles, blisters, and finally erosions. The common pathogenetic mechanism is the presence of autoantibodies targeting structural proteins of the skin and mucous membranes (demosomes and hemidesmosomes): in the case of pemphigus, the antigens are intraepidermal, whereas in the case of pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita they are subepidermal. Mucosal involvement typically affects the oral and ocular mucosa, but in some cases, the upper airways or the upper digestive tract are affected. Read More

Dermatology 2022 17;238(2):378-385. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a common autoimmune blistering skin disease with substantial mortality.

Objective: To identify whether the use of immunosuppressants was associated with reduced mortality in BP patients.

Methods: The data for this study were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2013. Read More

Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2020 Dec;28(4):249-250

Hisayoshi Imanishi, MD, PhD, Division of Dermatology, Daito Central Hospital, 2-1-11 Ono, Daito, Osaka 574-0042, Japan;

Dear Editor, Dapsone is a dual-function drug with antimicrobial and antiprotozoal effects and anti-inflammatory features (1). In dermatology, it is a first choice for conditions such as leprosy, IgA pemphigus, dermatitis herpetiformis, and linear IgA bullous dermatosis, or an adjunctive treatment for, e.g. Read More

Exp Eye Res 2021 04 14;205:108495. Epub 2021 Feb 14.

Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology and University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA; Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA. Electronic address:

The corneal endothelial monolayer and associated Descemet's membrane (DM) complex is a unique structure that plays an essential role in corneal function. Endothelial cells are neural crest derived cells that rest on a special extracellular matrix and play a major role in maintaining stromal hydration within a narrow physiologic range necessary for clear vision. A number of diseases affect the endothelial cells and DM complex and can impair corneal function and vision. Read More

BMC Endocr Disord 2021 Feb 11;21(1):23. Epub 2021 Feb 11.

Second Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid is the most common bullous chronic autoimmune skin disease. Recent studies have suggested dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors as possible predisposing agents of bullous pemphigoid. The objective of our study was to prospectively estimate the association between gliptins and the development of bullous pemphigoid. Read More

J Cell Physiol 2021 09 8;236(9):6115-6135. Epub 2021 Feb 8.

Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Aquaporins (AQPs), as transmembrane proteins, were primarily identified as water channels with the ability of regulating the transmission of water, glycerol, urea, and other small-sized molecules. The classic view of AQPs involvement in therapeutic plan restricted them and their regulators into managing only a narrow spectrum of the diseases such as diabetes insipidus and the syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion. However, further investigations performed, especially in the third millennium, has found that their cooperation in water transmission control can be manipulated to handle other burden-imposing diseases such as cirrhosis, heart failure, Meniere's disease, cancer, bullous pemphigoid, eczema, and Sjögren's syndrome. Read More

J Dermatol 2021 Apr 4;48(4):486-496. Epub 2021 Feb 4.

Division of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i)-associated bullous pemphigoid (BP) has been emerging but whether it has genotype or phenotype differences from idiopathic BP (IBP) remains to be determined. We aimed to compare clinical characteristics, genetic susceptibility, laboratory features, disease activity, and outcomes between DPP4i-associated BP (DBP) and IBP occurring among patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM). Medical records of patients diagnosed with BP and T2DM from January 2009 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed, and patients were categorized into DBP or IBP groups. Read More

North Clin Istanb 2020 20;7(6):597-602. Epub 2020 Nov 20.

Free Dermatologist, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objective: Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune blistering disease affecting the mucosal surfaces as well as the skin. Twenty-eight retrospective studies about the epidemiologic data of pemphigus vulgaris patients have been performed previously in the literature.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated 320 pemphigus vulgaris patients who applied to the bullous diseases clinic of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, between the years 1999-2019. Read More

Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2021 Jan 21;171:108546. Epub 2020 Nov 21.

Department of Dermatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Aims: Higher bullous pemphigoid (BP) risk has been reported to be associated with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (DPP4i). The aim of this study is to examine the association between BP risk and DPP4i treatment.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide cohort study based on the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database between 2000 and 2015. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Oct;99(43):e22850

Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.

Bullous pemphigoid is an uncommon, autoimmune, blistering disease. Clinical features, associated conditions, and outcomes differ according to country. We aimed to determine the mortality rate and clinical characteristics of Thai patients and to evaluate the risk factors associated with survival. Read More