Presentation
In three patients with immunologically verified disease, the clinical presentation consisted of widespread erythematous, edematous papules and plaques, grouped vesicles on erythematous bases, and tense bullae. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Patients typically present in the second or third trimester, although nearly 25% of patients present in the postpartum period. [gynecology-obstetrics.imedpub.com]
Tense bullae are present on the arms of this otherwise healthy 32-year-old primigravida woman. [emedicine.medscape.com]
Entire Body System
- Fever
While most people have their first herpes outbreak when they’re young, either in the form of oral herpes symptoms presenting a cold sore or fever blister as with herpes labialis, others had chicken pox as school children. [skincarearticles.com]
Approximately five out of 10,000 pregnant women have varicella (chickenpox). 7 It causes fever and a disseminated pruritic, vesicular, umbilicated rash with crusted lesions. [aafp.org]
Generalized symptoms such as fever and malaise may develop, and lymph nodes in the groin may enlarge. Lesions may persist in this stage for a week or more, and complete healing may take four to six weeks. [britannica.com]
Treatment includes medication for fever (see above, anti-inflammatory drugs) and taking plenty of fluids. [emedicinehealth.com]
- Malaise
Generalized symptoms such as fever and malaise may develop, and lymph nodes in the groin may enlarge. Lesions may persist in this stage for a week or more, and complete healing may take four to six weeks. [britannica.com]
|| doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04565.x Published online: 17 June 2002 Clinical Record A 30-year-old woman in the 30th week of pregnancy was admitted with a two-day history of fever, malaise, dysuria, frequent micturition and mild lower abdominal [mja.com.au]
Patients feel unwell and may complain of fatigue, malaise, fevers, chills, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Pustular psoriasis of pregnancy tends to remit upon delivery but occasionally flares postpartum. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]
Systemic symptoms are severe and include malaise, fever, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tetany [ 68,69 ]. Leukocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate are common. [uptodate.com]
- Collapse
(d) Many tense and collapsed bullae on the leg. (e) Collapsed bullae on the forearm. Figure 2: Cutaneous biopsy in lesional skin. [hindawi.com]
Tense bulla over flexural aspect of the forearm Intact and collapsed bullae over the forearm Routine investigations including hemogram, liver and renal function tests, blood sugar levels, chest X-ray and urine examination were within normal limits. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Skin
- Blister
In many areas of blister formation sub-basal dense plates, but probably also the upper parts of the hemidesmosomes were separated from the roof of the blister. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
It was originally called herpes gestationis because of the blistering appearance, although it is not associated with the herpes virus. [en.wikipedia.org]
- Pruritus
It is a rare vesiculo-bullous eruption that develops during the last trimester or even postpartum and creates severe pruritus. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Only very rarely (5%) a pregnancy may be passed over Pemphigoid gestationis presents with intense pruritus that occasionally may precede the manifestation of skin lesions initially, erythematous urticarial papules and plaques typically develop on the [gpnotebook.co.uk]
Severe pruritus represents the leading symptom commonly followed by a more widespread skin rash. [dovepress.com]
- Urticaria
[…] urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) Atopic eruption of pregnancy – also known as prurigo gestationis (prurigo of pregnancy or PP) and pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy Viral exanthems (eg, varicella ) Urticaria [arupconsult.com]
Differential Diagnosis (Other conditions with similar appearance) Bullous pemphigoid Cicatricial pemphigoid Linear IgA dermatosis Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy Urticaria, Acute Diagnosis Key Points *Initial diagnosis based on appearance [ozarkderm.com]
They differ from true urticaria because they are relatively fixed in nature. The rash spreads peripherally, often sparing the face, palms and soles. Mucosal lesions occur in fewer than 20% of cases. [patient.info]
- Excoriation
ICP may present with secondary skin changes such as excoriations and excoriated papules from scratching, or may present with pruritus alone. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]
They were manifested by a polymorphous eruption, consisting of erythematous urticaria-like plaques, small tense vesicles and multiple excoriations. Mucous membranes were not affected. Routine laboratory examinations were within normal limits. [journal-imab-bg.org]
With excoriations, there can be oozing, weeping, and secondary bacterial infection. [glowm.com]
It is characterized by maternal pruritus affecting the palms and soles, and increased rates of preterm labor and adverse fetal outcomes. 4, 5 There are no dermatologic features, except for excoriation from the pruritus. [aafp.org]
- Eczema
Eczema in pregnancy and prurigo of pregnancy tend to start and often remain on the extremities. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]
(See "Management of psoriasis in pregnancy" and "Treatment of atopic dermatitis (eczema)" .) [uptodate.com]
Pruritus is the leading symptom in the pregnancy-specific dermatoses, but pruritus also occurs in more common diseases such as urticaria, drug hypersensitivity reactions, contact dermatitis and other eczemas, pityriasis rosea, pityriasis versicolor, and [dovepress.com]
Rarely, some complications develop in a few individuals: Atopic eczema Encephalitis Keratoconjunctivitis Pharyngitis Hepatitis Herpes whitlow (HSV blisters or lesions on the finger[s]) Oral Herpes vs. Canker Sores Cancer sores are not contagious. [emedicinehealth.com]
Atopic dermatitis Atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with itching. There are no primary lesions, but secondarily, there is erythema, scaling, lichenification, and sometimes papules. [glowm.com]
Neurologic
- Headache
An initial infection starts after an incubation period of 3-7 days, after which fever, headaches, fatigue and muscle pains can occur. [americanskin.org]
Possible side-effects of aciclovir include skin rash, light sensitivity, headache, dizziness, tummy upset and tirednesss. [netdoctor.co.uk]
The first set symptoms are: Itching sensations Burning sensations Tingling sensations Sores/Blisters Lesions Discharge – vaginal Painful urination Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area Flu-like symptoms – fever, headaches, muscle aches Some of these symptoms [herpeshelper.net]
Common signs and symptoms of STIs include: Flu-like symptoms, including headache and fatigue (feeling very tired) Vaginal discharge or burning, itching, redness or swelling in the vaginal area Pain, itching or burning when you go to the bathroom; pain [marchofdimes.org]
[…] appetite, but there is no evidence of an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. 46 Use of cyclosporine A is associated with multiple side effects such as high blood pressure, renal insufficiency, bone marrow suppression, increased hair growth, headache [dovepress.com]
Workup
Biopsy and immunohistology are both used in the workup of the disease. [arupconsult.com]
HLA Type
- HLA-DR2
Where HLA typing was possible (in one patient), the combination of HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4 was found. In addition, anti-HLA-DR2 antibodies were present in serum samples taken from this patient. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
HLA-DR4, or both DRB1*0301 and DRB1*0401/040X C4 null allele Increased HLA-DR2 in father Pathology and Immunopathology Subepidermal blistering process Linear C3 at the basement membrane zone (BMZ) on direct immunofluorescence of perilesional tissue [arupconsult.com]
Indeed, a slight increase in HLA-DR2 in the husbands of women with PG has been reported. 23 It has been suggested that immunologically primed women may simply react more strongly to tissue with disparate HLA antigens. [dermaamin.com]
- HLA-B8
In herpes gestationis, immunofluorescence studies were consistently positive, there was a high frequency of HLA-B8 and an association with autoimmune thyrotoxicosis. Toxic erythema of pregnancy did not share these immunological features. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- HLA-A1
Immunogenetic studies reveal an increase in HLA antigens DR3 or DR4, and curiously, nearly 50 percent of patients have the simultaneous presence of both. 21 The extended haplotype HLA-A1, B8, DR3 is known to be in linkage disequilibrium with a deletion [dermaamin.com]
Treatment
No significant associations of adverse pregnancy outcomes with autoantibody titre or systemic corticosteroid treatment were found. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Women who have been taking steroid treatment for a prolonged period should not stop the drugs immediately but should follow their doctor's advice about the best way to reduce treatment gradually. [transmed.co.za]
In the post partum period, if necessary, the full range of immunosuppressive treatment may be administered for cases unresponsive to corticosteroid treatments, such as tetracyclines, nicotinamide, cyclophosphamide, ciclosporin, goserelin, azathioprine [en.wikipedia.org]
Prognosis
Mechanism and pathophysiology autoimmune bullous dermatosis pathophysiology antibodies against hemidesmosomal proteins undetermined trigger Associated conditions other autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis Grave's disease pernicious anemia Prognosis [medbullets.com]
Unfortunately, fetal prognosis may be poor even in appropriately controlled mothers. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]
Etiology
Etiology and pathophysiology are not established, but an immunological basis is implicated by the frequent finding of C 3 along the basement membrane zone of perilesional skin, the presence of herpes gestationis factor, increased incidence of HLA-DR3 [jhu.pure.elsevier.com]
Its etiology is unknown, but it is considered as an autoimmune-mediated dermatosis closely related to the pemphigoid group. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The etiology of herpes gestationis is uncertain. [popline.org]
Epidemiology
Patient Population: Prevalence and Epidemiology Knee // Shoulder & Elbow // Hip // Spine // Foot & Ankle // Hand & Wrist Fragility Fractures: Diagnosis and Treatment Shoulder & Elbow The Characteristics of Surgeons Performing Total Shoulder Arthroplasty [amjorthopedics.com]
[…] blistering dermatologic disorder unique to pregnancy NOT associated with past or present herpes infection onset T2-postpartum characterized by severe pruritis lesions are erythematous papules, vesicles, and bullae distribution abdomen extremities generalized Epidemiology [medbullets.com]
Pathophysiology
Etiology and pathophysiology are not established, but an immunological basis is implicated by the frequent finding of C 3 along the basement membrane zone of perilesional skin, the presence of herpes gestationis factor, increased incidence of HLA-DR3 [jhu.pure.elsevier.com]
However, because no control bullous pemphigoid sera showed this reactivity, it may suggest a different pathophysiology between herpes gestationis and bullous pemphigoid. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
[…] autoimmune bullous dermatosis pathophysiology antibodies against hemidesmosomal proteins undetermined trigger Associated conditions other autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis Grave's disease pernicious anemia Prognosis increased incidence [medbullets.com]
Prevention
[…] relief of symptoms and the prevention of secondary infection. [ozarkderm.com]
Your doctor may increase your steroid dose in late pregnancy to help prevent this from happening. There is a risk that pemphigoid gestationis will affect your baby. [babycentre.co.uk]
The dose of steroid tablets may need to be increased at the end of pregnancy to prevent the condition flaring after delivery. [transmed.co.za]
The primary aim of treatment is to relieve itching, prevent blister formation and treat any secondary infection. Topical steroid creams can be used in mild cases if only a limited area of skin is affected. [skinsupport.org.uk]
Anyone who works in a high-risk setting and is exposed to blood should get a vaccine against hepatitis B to prevent infection. [webmd.com]