PREVALENCE OF AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASES IN THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF PATIENTS WITH PEMPHIGUS-VULGARIS

Background: Several studies show that the family members of patients w ith autoimmune diseases are more susceptible to the development of the same or, more frequently, other autoimmune diseases. Although an asso ciation between pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and other autoimmune diseases has been reported, the presence of autoimmune diseases in the family m embers of patients with PV has not been studied. Objective: The purpos e of this study was to determine whether first-degree relatives of pat ients with PV are more susceptible to the development of autoimmune di seases. Methods: A case-control study was done. A total of 830 first-d egree relatives of 60 white patients with PV were compared with 890 re latives of 60 age-, race-, and sex-matched random controls. Both group s of relatives were screened for the presence of 16 autoimmune disease s. Results: There was a highly significant increase in the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in the first-degree family members of PV patien ts, compared with controls. Conclusion: There is an increased suscepti bility to the development of autoimmune diseases in the family members of patients with PV.