Relationship between Radiation Therapy and Bullous Pemphigoid

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease. OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on radiation therapy (RT)-associated BP. METHODS: A review of the English language literature on patients who developed BP during and up to 10 years post RT was performed. RESULTS: 29 patients were reported. 25 (86.2%) were women, 84% of whom had received RT for breast cancer. Three patients were male (10.3%). Gender was not mentioned in 1 (3.4%). 72% developed BP post RT; 28% developed BP while undergoing RT. BP was initially localized to irradiated sites in 25 patients and to non-irradiated sites in 2 patients. Two patients presented with generalized disease. Disease control was reported in 12 patients, partial remission in 7 and complete remission in 5. CONCLUSION: The clinical profile, response to therapy and clinical outcome may indicate that RT-associated BP may be a specific subset of BP with a relatively benign course.