Epidemiology of pemphigus in south‐western Iran: A 10‐year retrospective study (1991–2000)

• Published in: International journal of dermatology Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 103 - 105
• Main Authors: Salmanpour, R., Shahkar, H., Namazi, M. R., Rahman‐Shenas, M. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-02-2006; Blackwell Science; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; Azathioprine - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Bullous diseases of the skin; Child; Dapsone - therapeutic use; Dermatology; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Iran - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pemphigus - drug therapy; Pemphigus - epidemiology; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Retrospective Studies; Seasons; Sex Distribution; Iran; Asia; Bullous dermatosis; Human; Immunopathology; Skin disease; Dermatology; Pemphigus; Autoimmune disease; Tropical medicine; Epidemiology; Retrospective
• ISSN: 0011-9059; 1365-4632
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2004.02374.x

Background  Pemphigus is a disease demonstrating an uneven geographic distribution. This is the first epidemiologic study of pemphigus in Iran.
Methods  Data were collected from the files of all newly registered patients with pemphigus at the sole dermatologic referral center for south‐western Iran located in the city of Shiraz, during the period 1991–2000. The data were analyzed with regard to age, sex, subtypes of pemphigus, clinical presentation, and season of onset.
Results  The results showed that the mean incidence of the disease for the overall population in Shiraz was 0.67/105/year. The male to female ratio was 1 : 1.33. The mean age at onset of the disease was 38 years (range, 12–93 years). The disease was most common in the third to fifth decades (62.1% of the overall patients). Pemphigus vulgaris was the most commonly encountered type, followed by pemphigus foliaceus (87.7% and 9%, respectively). The first manifestations of the illness most often occurred during winter (30.8% of the patients).
Conclusions  The results reveal a high incidence of pemphigus vulgaris in south‐western Iran compared with that encountered in other countries. Our patients also had a relatively young age at onset and a female predominance.