Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer - Coincidence or patho-genetic relationship?

J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2007 Oct;5(10):916-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2007.06338.x.
[Article in English, German]

Abstract

The etiology of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is unknown. EBA may be associated with other autoimmune systemic diseases; it also has been described in connection with different malignant tumors, showing complete remission after successful treatment of the tumor. In such cases, EBA may be regarded as a paraneo-plastic dermatosis. We detected a highly differentiated neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in a 78-year-old woman with EBA. Even thought her tumor was completely removed and the patient has been disease-free for over seven years, a complete regression of her autoimmune bullous dermatosis could not be induced. By using intravenous immunoglobulins in combination with mycophenolate mofetil, further blister formation could be ameliorated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / genetics
  • Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / complications*
  • Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / diagnosis
  • Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / drug therapy*
  • Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Mycophenolic Acid / administration & dosage*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Mycophenolic Acid