Pemphigus Vulgaris

Excerpt

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune disease that results in blisters on cutaneous and mucosal surfaces and is characterized primarily by acantholysis. Pemphigus is derived from pemphix, the Greek word for blister. Pemphigus was first described in 1788 by Stephen Dickson, who observed a patient with a blister on her tongue. Although PV is not contagious as initially thought, there have been possible triggers identified that might induce PV in patients with other autoimmune disorders.