Relationship between Radiation Therapy and Bullous Pemphigoid

Abstract

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease. Objective: To review the literature on radiation therapy (RT)-associated BP. Methods: A review of the English language literature on patients who developed BP during and up to 10 years post RT was performed. Results: 29 patients were reported. 25 (86.2%) were women, 84% of whom had received RT for breast cancer. Three patients were male (10.3%). Gender was not mentioned in 1 (3.4%). 72% developed BP post RT; 28% developed BP while undergoing RT. BP was initially localized to irradiated sites in 25 patients and to non-irradiated sites in 2 patients. Two patients presented with generalized disease. Disease control was reported in 12 patients, partial remission in 7 and complete remission in 5. Conclusion: The clinical profile, response to therapy and clinical outcome may indicate that RT-associated BP may be a specific subset of BP with a relatively benign course.

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“…Nguyen et al have summarized 29 patients with BP following radiation for malignancy treatment. BP was localized on the irradiated area in 25 of them, in two it was localized in non-irradiated sites and in another two it was generalized (44). All cases had a rather benign course, with corticosteroids being sufficient to control the disease.…”

Localized bullous pemphigoid: Four clinical cases and a literature review

“…9 According to a study by Nguyen and Coll, LBP develops in 72% of cases within six months after the end of radiotherapy and in 28% of cases during radiotherapy. 10 The appearance of LBP on the mouth after radiotherapy against laryngeal carcinoma has also been described. 11 The pathogenic mechanism of LBP development associated with radiotherapy is difficult to prove and remains hypothetical.…”

Isoradiotopic response of discoid lupus after radiotherapy: A case report and review of the literature

“…In 2014, Nguyen, Kwan, and Ahmed () reviewed the literature and reported the cases of 29 patients who developed bullous pemphigoid (BP) after receiving radiation therapy for cancer treatment. The relationship between onset of BP and time of radiation revealed that 72% of patients developed BP some months after the last cycle of radiotherapy.…”