Erythema and erosion on the gingiva

This is pemphigoid on the gingiva of a woman in her 50s (fig 1).bmj;379/oct05_3/e071812/F1F1f1Fig 1The patient presented with a one year history of pain while eating that had worsened acutely over the previous two weeks. She did not smoke, and her fasting blood glucose level was 6.5 mmol/L.Given the duration and severity of symptoms a gingival biopsy sample was taken. Pathology showed severe inflammation and erosions of the gingival mucosa and a large number of plasma cell infiltrates. Direct immunofluorescence of the specimen showed a linear deposition of IgG on the basement membrane. An IgG autoantibody level of 90 U/mL (normal value <20 U/mL) against anti-bullous pemphigoid 180 (anti-BP180) was found on enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, consistent with a diagnosis of pemphigoid.1 Pemphigoid is a multisystem autoimmune disease that produces autoantibodies at the junction of the mucosal epithelium and subepithelial connective tissue. Although pemphigoid commonly affects the oral mucosa, it... Read Original Article: Erythema and erosion on the gingiva »