Drug-induced pemphigus: A systematic review of 170 patients

Pemphigus encompasses a rare heterogeneous group of autoimmune blistering diseases characterized by cutaneous and/or mucosal blistering. Multiple factors, such as some specific types of drugs, have been found to be involved in the induction of pemphigus. Here, we have designed a systematic review by searching PubMed/Medline and Embase databases to find the drugs, involved in pemphigus induction and exacerbation (updated on 19 August 2019). From 1856 initially found articles, 134 studies (198 patients; 170 patients in the drug-induced patients and 28 in exacerbation group) have been included. Regarding drug-induced cases, the mean age was 57.19 ± 16.9-year-old (ranged 8–105), and patients had developed pemphigus within a mean of 154.27 days. Pemphigus vulgaris (38.9%), pemphigus foliaceus (33.5%), and paraneoplastic pemphigus (3.6%) were the most common subtypes. Furthermore, penicillamine (33.1%), captopril (7.7%), and bucillamine (6.5%) were the most reported drugs related to pemphigus induction; penicillamine was associated with the most persistent disease. Regardless of disease subtype, cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and mucosal involvements were reported in 68.6%, 30.1%, and 1.3% of patients, respectively. In total, the IgG deposition in the pathological studies, being positive for autoreactive antibodies in the serum against desmoglein 3 (Dsg3), and desmoglein 1 (Dsg1), were reported in 93%, 34.9%, and 72.7% of reported patients, respectively. Regarding the management of such patients, in 75% of healed cases, treatment (mainly transient systemic and topical corticosteroids and/or azathioprine) was needed besides stopping the probable pemphigus-inducing culprit drug, while drug cessation was enough to control the disease in 25%. As the outcomes, the lesions in 129 of 147 (87.8%) patients had been healed, while in 18 (12.2%), no healing was reported; fifteen out of 18 had died. In conclusion, some specific groups of treatments can induce pemphigus, including penicillamine, captopril, and bucillamine; despite the similar clinical and pathological manifestations to classical pemphigus, most of the cases are less severe and have a better prognosis.