A clinico-pathological analysis of pemphigus from Teaching Hospital Kandy

Pemphigus has been largely studied in developed countries (North America and Europe), Brazil and South Africa. Relatively little is known about pemphigus in most other parts of the world. We report a study of 33 cases of pemphigus observed at Teaching Hospital Kandy. Our cases of pemphigus were diagnosed on the basis of clinical, histological, and direct immunofluorescence studies. We estimated the annual incidence in Central Province of Sri Lanka to be 0.64 per 100,000 inhabitants. The disease was more common in women (60.6%), with a mean age of 45 years. Our study group was composed of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) (94%); one case of pemphigus foliaceus (PF) and another case of the subcorneal type of Ig A pemphigus. These data suggest that the central parts of Sri Lanka has a low incidence of pemphigus foliaceus compared to other regions of the world.