Case Report

Sporadic Pemphigus Foliaceus in a 3-Year-Old Vietnamese Girl: A Case Report and Literature Review

Table 1

Characteristics of pediatric pemphigus foliaceus patients.

NoAuthor (year)Age of onset/sexClinical featuresHistopathologyDIFTreatment and outcome

1Schroeter et al. [8] (1969)41 mos/MCrusting plaques on the scalp, neck, back; generalized flaccid blisters on erythematous base sparing only lower extremitiesAcantholytic cells lying within a vesicle high in the epidermisIntercellular staining of the epidermis with IgGPrednisone started at 140 mg/d + triamcinolone cream wet dressing effective control. Discontinued prednisone after approximately 6 months

2Kahn and Lewis [7] (1971)18 mos/FVesicular, crusting, arcuate, and circinate lesions spread over the trunk, upper arms, thighs, and perineum into the entire bodySubcorneal acantholysis of the granular layerNDHigh potency TCS applied without occlusion 6 times/day for 6 months favorable response

3Sotiriou et al. [9] (1980)4 yrs/MTense bullae on the lower extremities and lower part of the abdomenIntraepidermal bullae with a few acantholytic cells and chronic inflammationIgG, C3, and fibrin in the intercellular epidermis with IgM around some blood vesselsPrednisone started at 25 mg/d lesions resolved within 2 weeks

4Levine et al. [10] (1982)14 yrs/FScaly, erythematous, exudative plaques on face, trunk, and legsSeparation of the stratum corneum from the malpighian stratum and acantholysis of the granular cellsDeposition of IgG and C3 in the epidermal intercellular spacePrednisone started at 240 mg/d and tapered to 10 mg/d with an asymptomatic course

5Jones et al. [11] (1986)4 yrs/MExtensive crusting on face and scalp; generalized, papular, scaly eruption on trunk and extremitiesIntraepidermal blister at the level of the granular layer, with a few acantholytic cellsIntercellular staining of the high epidermis with IgGTopical fluorinated steroid resolution for 4 months.
The relapse required systemic steroids 40 mg/d with gradual taper

6Yorav et al. [12] (1989)8 yrs/FWidespread flaccid vesicles and bullae with superficial erosions on the trunk, shins, and lower legsMidepidermal cleft containing acantholytic cellsDeposition of IgG and C3 in the epidermal intercellular spaceDapsone 100 mg/d for a month without any clinical improvement.
Prednisone 40 mg/d for 3 weeks showed gradual improvement

7Goodyear et al. [13] (1991)12 yrs/FCrusted lesions on the lower limbs; blisters in a linear configuration on the arms, legs and lower abdomenSeparation in the upper epidermisIntercellular staining of the epidermis with IgG and C3Prednisolone 80 mg/day showed rapid resolution, which gradually reduced.
Azathioprine and sulphapyridine were added as steroid-sparing agents

8Walker et al. [5] (1995)Neonatal/MDenuded skin on the extremities; intact blisters on the right upper armsIntraepithelial vesicles with eosinophilic infiltratesIntercellular IgG and C3 deposits in the superficial epidermisPolysporin ointment twice a day completely healed at the sixth week

9Rosella et al. [14] (1996)10 yrs/MErosions and crusted lesions on the trunk, pubis, ears, and scalpSubcorneal bulla containing acantholytic epidermal cells. The lower epidermis showed spongiosis and focal acanthosisIntercellular IgG, IgM, and C3 in the epidermisDeflazacort 45 mg on alternate days partial clinical remission

10Galambrun et al. [15] (1997)8yrs/MSmall crusted lesions with raised edges and blisters on the trunk, face, and limbsSplitting of the upper epidermis, filled with acantholytic cellsIgG and C3 deposits in the upper half of the epidermisTopical betamethasone not responsive.
Marked improvement with prednisolone 2 mg/kg/d, but relapse occurred when steroid tapered. Dapsone added complete remission in 4 weeks

11Qureshi et al. [16] (1997)16 yrs/MSuperficial flaccid bullae and erosions on the upper chest, upper back, and neckIntraepidermal separation in the upper malpighian layers with acantholytic cellsIntercellular IgG and C3 in the upper stratum Malpighi epidermisTCS cream + triamcinolone acetonide injection well responsive

12Mehravaran et al. [1] (1998)7 yrs/FGeneralized erythema, with superficial erosions on the face, trunk, and extremities; intact superficial blisters on the extremitiesSubcorneal blister with acantholytic cells without any inflammatory cells in the cleftIntercellular staining for IgG, IgA, and C3 in the epidermisPrednisone 50 mg/d showed slow remission. A prednisone and dapsone combination resulted in complete recovery after a month

13Metry et al. [4] (2002)3 yrs/MSerpiginous, crusted, erythematous plaques on face and neckSubcorneal pustule with upper epidermal acantholysisIntercellular IgG and C3 in the epidermisPrednisolone 2 mg/kg/d + HCQ 5 mg/kg/d no improvement.
Prednisolone 2 mg/kg/d + HCQ 7 mg/kg/d well responsive

14Avalos-Díaz et al. [6] (2000)Neonatal/MErythematous eruption on the trunk and scattered vesicles on his trunk, arms, and legsSubcorneal vesiclesIntercellular IgG and C3 in the epidermisSpontaneous resolution within two weeks

15Hirsch et al. [17] (2003)Neonatal/FErosions on face, ears, chest, and extremitiesCleft within the superficial epidermis with a sparse neutrophilic infiltrateIntercellular IgG and C3 in the epidermisMupirocin 2% + hydrocortisone valerate well responsive in 2 days and no additional lesion development

16Narbutt et al. [18] (2003)11 yrs/MDisseminated bullae, vesicles in an annular pattern, and erosions on the extremities, abdomenAcantholysis and intraepidermal, subcorneal blisteringIntercellular IgG in the epidermisCyclophosphamide 1 mg/kg/d + methylprednisolone 1.5 mg/kg/d + HCQ 100 mg/d clinical improvement within 4 weeks

17Connelly et al. [19] (2007)21 mos/FErythroderma; erosions on hands and feet but no evident vesicles/bullaeSubcorneal blister with few acantholytic cellsGranular/linear IgG and C3 on the keratinocyte epidermal surfacesSolumedrol 2 mg/kg/d well responsive but prednisone dose could not be weaned.
Rituximab dramatic improvement after the second infusion, prednisone was weaned to 0.5 mg/kg/every other day

18Mlynek et al. [20] (2009)14 yrs/FSharply demarcated crusted erosions and discrete flaccid vesicles on upper trunk, face, and scalp; alopeciaSubcorneal acantholytic clefts within the epidermisIntercellular IgG in the epidermisPrednisolone 1 mg/kg/d + IVIg well responsive

19Fariba et al. [21] (2012)12 yrs/MErythroderma with scaling and exudation; mild palmoplantar keratoderma and scales covered the scalpSubcorneal cleft in the granular layerIntercellular IgG and C3 in the upper epidermisPrednisolone 30 mg/d + azathioprine 50 mg/d poor response
Prednisolone was increased to 50 mg/d improvement

20Salazar et al. [22] (2012)16 yrs/FHyperpigmented patches with hemorrhagic crusting and scale, scattered vesicles, and pustules on the trunkSubcorneal blister with superficial acantholysisIntercellular IgG in the epidermisPrednisone was transitioned to minocycline + nicotinamide

21Lorente Lavirgen et al. [23] (2012)Neonatal/FFlaccid bullae and denuded skin areas on the extremitiesNDNDPrednisolone 0.5 mg/kg/d for a week + TCS completely clear of skin lesions

22García-Meléndez et al. [24] (2013)11 yrs/FTense blisters on the face progressing slowly to erythroderma with yellow-greenish crustsSubcorneal bulla with upper epidermal acantholysisDeposition of C3 and IgG in the stratum spinosum with a beehive patternPrednisone 1 mg/kg/d + dapsone 50 mg/d satisfactory response

23Adah et al. [25] (2014)13 yrs/FDiffuse, tender, erythematous, desquamating rash on the trunk, face, and extremities; intact flaccid blisters; mild conjunctivitisSubcorneal blister filled with acantholytic cells and scattered neutrophilsIntercellular IgG, C3, and fibrinogen in the epidermisPulse steroids in 3 days (methylprednisolone 500 mg/d) rapid improvement.
Maintained with prednisone 40 mg/d + MMF 30 mg/kg/d

24Geller et al. [2] (2016)11 yrs/FErythematous plaques with yellow-brown crusts on the face, upper trunk, and armsSubcorneal bulla with acantholytic keratinocytes at the base of the blisterIntercellular IgG in upper the epidermis; fine granular linear IgM deposits along the dermoepidermal junctionPrednisone 1 mg/kg/d well responsive

25Laarman and Horii [26] (2017)15 yrs/FFlaccid vesicles on the inner upper arms and axillae; superficial erosions with crust on the buttocks, back, chest, face, and scalpSubcorneal split with eosinophilic spongiosisIntercellular IgG and C3 in the epidermis, with deposition of C3 along the basement membranePrednisone + MMF well responsive

26Loh and Paravar [27] (2017)17 yrs/MFollicular pustules on over the body; hyperpigmented, grey, and violaceous crusted papules overlying pink patches on hands, trunk, bilateral cheeks, and nose, sparing the nasolabial foldsEpidermal acanthosis and multifocal areas of eosinophilic spongiosis within the epidermis. Lymphocytic infiltrate with occasional eosinophils in the superficial dermisIntercellular IgG and C3 in the epidermisPrednisone 80 mg/d + MMF 2 g/d partially responsive.
Rituximab added significant improvement

27Evans et al. [3] (2019)8 yrs/MErythematous annular and polycyclic plaques with central clearing and peripheral scaling on the face, trunk, and proximal extremitiesSubcorneal vesicle with acantholytic keratinocytes; a few neutrophils in the areas of parakeratosisIntercellular IgG in the epidermisSystemic steroids + rituximab well responsive

28Kianfar et al. [28] (2022)14 yrs/F
16 yrs/M
Not mentionedNot mentionedNot mentionedSystemic steroids + rituximab dramatically responsive

29Our case42 mos/FGeneralized scaling and crusted erythematous patches; flaccid blisters easily ruptured into diffuse crusted erosions on trunk and extremitiesSplits at the level of the subcorneal layer with superficial acantholysisIntercellular staining of the superficial epidermis with IgG and C3Prednisolone 20 mg/d partial improvement

PF, pemphigus foliaceus; DIF, direct immunofluorescence; mos, months; Ig, immunoglobulin; yrs, years; ND, not done; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; IV, intravenous; MMF, mycophenolate mofetil.