Pemphigus Vulgaris Following Influenza: A Case Report

Kristen Bice, Channing Hood, Rawaa Almukhtar, Michelle Gerdes, Pamela Martin, Brian Lee

Abstract


Viruses have long been implicated as potential triggers of autoimmune disease. In the case of pemphigus vulgaris, members of the herpesviridae family are often associated with its development. There have also been reports of pemphigus being triggered by the influenza vaccine. We report a case of a 17-year-old male who developed mucous membrane-predominant pemphigus vulgaris after testing positive for the influenza virus and discuss proposed hypotheses for the association between viral infections and autoimmunity, such as molecular mimicry and epitope spreading.


Keywords


pemphigus vulgaris; molecular mimicry; epitope spreading

References


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DOI: 10.25251/skin.3.6.9

Abstract - 94 PDF - 16

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ISSN: 2574-1624

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