Clinical profile of oral pemphigus vulgaris in Thai patients

Background
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare, life-threatening autoimmune disease and varies in its clinical profile and epidemiology in different regions of the world.

Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of oral PV patients in the lower north and northeast of Thailand.

Material and methods
A retrospective study of PV patients who visited the Oral Medicine Clinic, Dental Hospital, Naresuan University and Khon Kaen University during the 2010–2020 period.

Results
21 oral PV patients were included. Among these, 16 (76.2%) were female, and 5 (23.8%) were male, with a female to male ratio of 3.2:1. The mean age of the patients was 47.7 ± 14.2 (range 25 to 74) years. 8 patients (38.1%) had a history of systemic diseases, and hypertension was predominant. The mean duration of the disease was 6 ± 3.42 (range 1 to 12) months. The most common complaint at presentation was oral ulceration with a burning sensation. The most affected sites were the buccal mucosa and gingiva (80.9%). Extraoral involvement was found in 14 patients (66.7%). Patients who had oral lesions before skin lesions found the mean duration was 4.63 ± 5.13 (range 1 to 16) months. Most of the patients (61.9%) were prescribed a combination of topical and systemic steroids.

Conclusions
The present study illustrates the demographics and clinical characteristics of oral PV in Thai patients. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are critical for the patients. Since oral mucosa is often the first site of PV involvement, healthcare professionals must recognize the disease’s clinical characteristics and manage PV patients appropriately.