An observational study in Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV), sponsored by Assiut University. Not yet recruiting. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-03-07.
Sponsored by Assiut University · Observational
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a potential life-threatening autoimmune bullous disorder presenting with multiple erosions and flaccid blisters that can involve both mucous membrane and skin. The microscopic findings include intraepithelial blisters caused by acantholysis of keratinocytes as the consequence of autoantibody formation. The antibodies are mainly IgG autoantibodies mostly directed against desmoglein 1 and 3 (Dsg 1, 3), which are adhesion molecules expressed on the surface of keratinocytes.
Scalp is a unique location for pemphigus because of the abundance of desmogleins localized in hair follicles. The frequency of scalp involvement in the course of pemphigus is estimated at 16-60% . According to literature data, the scalp is the first location in 9-15% of patients with pemphigus.
Several cases of alopecia in the course of pemphigus have been described. The significance of the distribution of desmogleins in hair follicles for scalp involvement and a potential use of direct immunofluorescence of plucked hairs are discussed in the literature. The significance of scalp involvement for the course of pemphigus remains controversial.
Trichoscopy is a non-invasive method for diagnosing hair and scalp disorders. Trichoscopy is widely used to differentiate causes of scalp lesions and scarring and non-scarring alopecia. To date there are few studies on the value of trichoscopy in pemphigus.
The pathogenesis and pathophysiology of PV depend on various factors like cellular immunity, genetic factors, ethnicity, diet and environment. According to previous studies, Dsg autoantibodies with IgG1 and IgG4 subtypes are mostly detected in the active form of the pemphigus diseases. Accordingly, the significant role of autoreactive B cells in the pathogenesis of PV could be explained by producing these types of autoantibodies.
Recently attention has been directed toward the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of PV. Similar to other autoimmune diseases, the underlying etiology of PV depends on the interaction between T cells and B cells resulting in antibody secretion.
Autoreactive CD4+ T cells are essential for the pathogenesis of several ab-mediated autoimmune diseases by providing help to autoreactive B cells resulting in the production of antigen specific auto-ab. Alterations in several T cell subsets like CD4+CD25+ Treg and Th17 cells, have been described and are suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of pemphigus.
A few studies have investigated the significant role of T cell subgroups, namely regulatory T cells (Treg), T helper17 (Th17), and T follicular helper cells (Tfh) in PV and some studies were carried out on both human and mouse models to meticulously reveal the function of T cell phenotypes including CD8+T cells, γδ T cells, and resident memory T cells in the pathogenesis of PV, which may explain the wide range of clinical presentations and severity of PV in patients.
76 studies on the registry are indexed under Pemphigus; 18 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 62 is close to the median of 60 across 21 observational studies indexed under Pemphigus.
Browse Pemphigus studies →Assiut University is the lead sponsor of 5,078 studies on the registry; 2,178 are open to participants now.
Of its 14 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Patients will be recruited from those attending the Bullous outpatient clinic of department of Dermatology, Assiut University Hospitals with the diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris. Patients will be included in the study after obtaining a written informed consent. And after the approval of the faculty of medicine ethics committee. An age and sex matched healthy volunteers will be recruited as a control group.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
cases of PV with disease activity
Diagnostic Test: Trichoscopy
cases of PV with disease remission
Diagnostic Test: Trichoscopy
control group
Trichoscopy will be done on patients with PV disease activity and remission
Trichoscopy as a monitooring tool
for activity and remission in PV
Time frame: 1 year
No study locations are listed for this record.
Start is estimated for May 2025; primary completion for May 2026, 12 months later.
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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Feb 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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