Introduction: Pemphigus refers to a group of chronic cutaneous autoimmune blistering diseases caused by antidesmosomal antibodies leading to acantholysis with consequent blisters.

Aims: To study the clinical, cytological, histopathological and immunofluorescence findings in pemphigus.

Methods: Thirty patients with pemphigus were studied. Tzanck smear could be done in 25 patients. Histopathology examination was carried out in 29 cases. Direct immunofluorescence was done in 29 patients. All the data were analysed using the computer software, statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 10.

Results: Of the 30 pemphigus patients studied, majority of males (53.3%) had  onset in the age group 30-44 years and 53.3% of females had onset at a slightly higher age group. In 5 cases, onset of disease was noted in the age group >60 years. Two cases gave history of vesiculobullous disease in their siblings.  Diabetes was present in 23.3% cases, thyroid disorders in 16.7% and hypertension in 10%. 40% showed Staphylococcus aureus growth, 13.7% with Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus and 6.3% had streptococcal growth. Tzanck smear was positive in 88%. By histopathological examination all the patients could be diagnosed as either pemphigus vulgaris or pemphigus foliaceus. In DIF study, 96.6% showed intercellular IgG and 86.2% cases showed C3.

Conclusion: All clinically diagnosed cases could be confirmed either by histopathology or DIF as pemphigus. Identification of type of pemphigus was possible by histopathology in 100% cases where it was done.

Keywords: pemphigus, Tzanck, Direct immunofluorescence, histopathology.

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Dr Sheena Ann Simon

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Dermatology & Venereology, Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.