Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Involving the Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Mucosae

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP), an autoimmune mucocutaneous disorder involving the oral and bronchial mucosae, is a rare complication of hematologic malignancy. Serologically, serum autoantibodies against varied desmosome-related proteins are of notice. PNP is often lethal due to bronchiolitis oblit...

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Main Authors: Kentaro Odani, Akane Itoh, Soshi Yanagita, Yasuhito Kaneko, Mitsuhiro Tachibana, Takashi Hashimoto, Yutaka Tsutsumi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Pathology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/7350759
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author Kentaro Odani
Akane Itoh
Soshi Yanagita
Yasuhito Kaneko
Mitsuhiro Tachibana
Takashi Hashimoto
Yutaka Tsutsumi
author_facet Kentaro Odani
Akane Itoh
Soshi Yanagita
Yasuhito Kaneko
Mitsuhiro Tachibana
Takashi Hashimoto
Yutaka Tsutsumi
author_sort Kentaro Odani
collection DOAJ
description Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP), an autoimmune mucocutaneous disorder involving the oral and bronchial mucosae, is a rare complication of hematologic malignancy. Serologically, serum autoantibodies against varied desmosome-related proteins are of notice. PNP is often lethal due to bronchiolitis obliterans and opportunistic infection. A 70-year-old Japanese male complained of dry cough, stomatitis, and sore throat. The lips and oral mucosa were severely eroded, and skin eruptions were seen on the chest and abdomen. The biopsy features were consistent with PNP, and the deposition of IgG and IgM was shown on the plasma membrane of the involved keratinocytes. Serological studies demonstrated autoantibodies to desmoglein-3, desmocollins-2 and -3, bullous pemphigoid antigen-1, envoplakin and periplakin. Systemic evaluation disclosed mantle cell lymphoma, stage 4B. After chemotherapy, partial remission was reached. PNP was treated with methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulins, and the oral lesion only temporarily responded. He died of respiratory failure two months after onset. Autopsy revealed residual indolent lymphoma and systemic opportunistic infections. Aspergillus colonized the eroded bronchial/bronchiolar mucosa, associated with extensive vascular invasion. Coinfection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Pneumocystis jirovecii caused interstitial pneumonia. The oropharyngeal, respiratory, esophageal, and gastrointestinal mucosae were diffusely infected by CMV. Bronchiolitis obliterans was observed in the peripheral lung. PNP-related acantholysis-like lesions were microscopically identified in the bronchial and gastrointestinal mucosa. IgG deposition and cleaved caspase-3-immunoreactive apoptotic cell death were proven in the involved mucosal columnar cells. Pathogenesis of the mucosal involvement is discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-08e0e4b67a08484a89e781f9aa80a4cb2025-08-20T02:03:23ZengWileyCase Reports in Pathology2090-67812090-679X2020-01-01202010.1155/2020/73507597350759Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Involving the Respiratory and Gastrointestinal MucosaeKentaro Odani0Akane Itoh1Soshi Yanagita2Yasuhito Kaneko3Mitsuhiro Tachibana4Takashi Hashimoto5Yutaka Tsutsumi6Department of General Medicine, Shimada Municipal Hospital, Shimada, Shizuoka, JapanDepartment of General Medicine, Shimada Municipal Hospital, Shimada, Shizuoka, JapanDepartment of Hematology, Shimada Municipal Hospital, Shimada, Shizuoka, JapanDepartment of Dermatology, Shimada Municipal Hospital, Shimada, Shizuoka, JapanDepartment of Diagnostic Pathology, Shimada Municipal Hospital, Shimada, Shizuoka, JapanDepartment of Dermatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Diagnostic Pathology, Shimada Municipal Hospital, Shimada, Shizuoka, JapanParaneoplastic pemphigus (PNP), an autoimmune mucocutaneous disorder involving the oral and bronchial mucosae, is a rare complication of hematologic malignancy. Serologically, serum autoantibodies against varied desmosome-related proteins are of notice. PNP is often lethal due to bronchiolitis obliterans and opportunistic infection. A 70-year-old Japanese male complained of dry cough, stomatitis, and sore throat. The lips and oral mucosa were severely eroded, and skin eruptions were seen on the chest and abdomen. The biopsy features were consistent with PNP, and the deposition of IgG and IgM was shown on the plasma membrane of the involved keratinocytes. Serological studies demonstrated autoantibodies to desmoglein-3, desmocollins-2 and -3, bullous pemphigoid antigen-1, envoplakin and periplakin. Systemic evaluation disclosed mantle cell lymphoma, stage 4B. After chemotherapy, partial remission was reached. PNP was treated with methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulins, and the oral lesion only temporarily responded. He died of respiratory failure two months after onset. Autopsy revealed residual indolent lymphoma and systemic opportunistic infections. Aspergillus colonized the eroded bronchial/bronchiolar mucosa, associated with extensive vascular invasion. Coinfection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Pneumocystis jirovecii caused interstitial pneumonia. The oropharyngeal, respiratory, esophageal, and gastrointestinal mucosae were diffusely infected by CMV. Bronchiolitis obliterans was observed in the peripheral lung. PNP-related acantholysis-like lesions were microscopically identified in the bronchial and gastrointestinal mucosa. IgG deposition and cleaved caspase-3-immunoreactive apoptotic cell death were proven in the involved mucosal columnar cells. Pathogenesis of the mucosal involvement is discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/7350759
spellingShingle Kentaro Odani
Akane Itoh
Soshi Yanagita
Yasuhito Kaneko
Mitsuhiro Tachibana
Takashi Hashimoto
Yutaka Tsutsumi
Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Involving the Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Mucosae
Case Reports in Pathology
title Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Involving the Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Mucosae
title_full Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Involving the Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Mucosae
title_fullStr Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Involving the Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Mucosae
title_full_unstemmed Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Involving the Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Mucosae
title_short Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Involving the Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Mucosae
title_sort paraneoplastic pemphigus involving the respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosae
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/7350759
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