Desquamative gingivitis: a form of cicatricial pemphigoid?

Desquamative gingivitis, a sub-epithelial vesiculo-bullous disease involving the gingiva, has been shown to have positive direct immunofluorescent findings similar to those of cicatricial pemphigoid. However, the lack of severe scarring, limitation of lesions to the anterior portion of the mouth and the tendency toward limitation of lesions to the oral mucosa over long periods of time in desquamative gingivitis, suggest that desquamative gingivitis and cicatricial pemphigoid are distinct and separate entities.