Precautions and suggestions for pemphigus patients

The onset and course of pemphigus are often the result of an interaction be tween predisposing genetic factors and environmental triggering agents. The latter are heterogeneous, numerous and increasing, ranging from drug intak e (the commonest cause of pemphigus induction) to the exposure to physical agents (heat, UV and ionizing rays, surgical and cosmetic procedures), vira l infections (especially by herpesvirus), contact dermatitis, certain diet ingredients and even emotional stress: Alerting physicians and pemphigus pa tients to the effects that unsuspected precipitating factors may have on th e progression of the disease is an important task. In fact, avoiding or lim iting deleterious habits (e.g. overindulging in unnecessary drugs) and sugg esting alternative ways (e.g. substituting potentially pemphigus-inducing d rugs with others considered harmless in this respect) may be a useful preca ution in the management of pemphigus patients, since it can improve the eff icacy of conventional treatments, reduce the risks of relapses and sometime s result in a cure. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.