Incidence of autoimmune subepidermal blistering dermatoses in a region of central Germany

With great interest, we read the recent article by Bernard et al1in the January 1995 issue of theArchiveson the incidence and distribution of subepidermal autoimmune bullous skin diseases in three French regions. Epidemiologic data on these conditions had been extremely rare, and we undertook a similar study in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Würzburg (Germany). This center is the only dermatologic department in northwestern Bavaria, a region of central Germany. The observation period was 65 months (March 1989 through July 1994), and cases included in this investigation came from an area covering a population of 1.7× 106. All patients in this study suffered from a newly acquired bullous disease involving the skin and/or the mucous membranes. These patients were seen in our outpatient clinic, and most were admitted for initiation of treatment. The diagnostic criteria are shown inTable 1. All patients