Pemphigus vulgaris and disseminated nocardiosis

Infectious diseases, in particular septicaemia from Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are the most severe and freque nt complications for the immunosuppressive therapy of pemphigus. Infection by Nocardia asteroides in subjects with pemphigus vulgaris is rare. We repo rt the sixth case found of such an association; the subject died of dissemi nated nocardiosis while receiving steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, 4 y ears after being diagnosed with chronic pemphigus vulgaris.