Pemphigoid gestationis: treatment by topical class I corticosteroid.

Background, Systemic corticosteroid is the main treatment of severe forms o f pemphigoid gestation is. We report a case of generalised pemphigoid gesta tionis successfully treated with very potent topical corticosteroid. Case, A 37-year-old woman developed during her third pregnancy with a new p artner an urticated generalised eruption associated with bullous lesions. T he diagnosis of pemphigoid gestationis was confirmed by direct immunofluore scence which detected a linear C-3 deposition along the basement membrane z one and the positivity of Herpes Gestationis Factor (lo units). Local treat ment with potent corticosteroid (betamethasone dipropionate 0.05 p, 100) fa iled and the patient was successfully treated by clobetasol propionate 0.05 p. too cream. The infant, in good health, was not delivered prematurely. Discussion. Severe form of pemphigoid gestationis are currently treated wit h 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/day of systemic corticosteroids, with maternal and pediatr ic possible side effects. As in bullous pemphigoid, this observation underl ines the efficiency and good tolerance of very potent corticosteroid in sev ere forms of pemphigoid gestationis.