Postvaccinal, corticosteroid-resistant bullous pemphigoid in infancy: treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin

Abstract

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disorder that typically affects elderly adults but can also occur in childhood. We report on a 3-month-old boy who developed bullous pemphigoid 1 week after the second routine administration of a hexavalent vaccine. The disease was resistant to standard therapies (including oral and topical corticosteroids) but was relieved by intravenous immunoglobulin treatment. There was no recurrence of bullous pemphigoid after the next vaccination (3 mos after discontinuation of steroids).