Ear, Nose and Throat Approach in Autoimmune Blistering Diseases

Autoimmune blistering diseases (AIBD) are a group of rare blistering disorders of the skin and mucous membranes due to autoantibodies directed against specific proteins. Involvement of mucosal areas in AIBD significantly increases patient morbidity and mortality. Ear, nose and throat (ENT) examination should be a routine procedure to evaluate mucosal involvement in every AIBD. Patients should be asked whether they had oropharyngeal, ear, nose and throat symptoms and all patients should be evaluated for ENT manifestations by direct and endoscopic examination even in patients without symptoms.

Keywords: Autoimmune blistering diseases; Ear; Nose; Throat; Mucosal involvement

Abbreviations: AIBD: Autoimmune Blistering Diseases; IEBD: Intraepidermal Blistering Diseases; SEBD: Subepidermal Blistering Diseases; PV: Pemphigus Vulgaris; PF: Pemphigus Foliaceus; PNP: Paraneoplastic Pemphigus; BP: Bullous Pemphigoid; MMP: Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid; ENT: Ear, Nose and Throat; PDAI:Pemphigus Disease Area Index; ABSIS: Autoimmune Bullous Skin Disorder Intensity Score; DIF: Direct Immunofluorescence Microscopy; ELISA: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay