Role of physical factors in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid: Case report series and a comprehensive review of the published work.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease affecting mainly the elderly. The subtype of the disease induced by physical agents represents a rare and, therefore, insufficiently characterized form. In the present study, we aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the onset of BP induced by different trigger factors.

Photodamaging effects of porphyrins and chitosan on primary human keratinocytes and carcinoma cell cultures.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-surgical method for treating non-melanoma skin cancer and precancerous lesions which involves the activation of a photosensitizer by visible light to produce activated oxygen species within target cells, resulting in the destruction of the latter. The present study evaluates the effect of PDT on primary normal and basal cell carcinoma cultures in vitro.

Methods: Primary human keratinocytes and carcinoma cell cultures were exposed to various concentrations of 5,10,15,20-tetra-(para-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin (TMP) and its zinc compound (Zn-TMP) for 24 hours, with or without chitosan, and then irradiated using a PDT lamp (630 nm, 6 J/cm(2)).

Pemphigus vulgaris is the most common autoimmune bullous disease in Northwestern Romania.

Background: Autoimmune bullous diseases are organ-specific diseases characterized by autoreactive T and B cells specific for structural proteins of the skin. The incidence and prevalence of autoimmune blistering diseases vary in different countries and their epidemiology has not yet been addressed in Romania.

Methods: In this study between 2001 and 2007, we prospectively investigated a total of 116 patients with autoimmune blistering diseases from the Northwestern region of Romania.