Pemphigoid gestationis: A case report on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Abstract

Background: Pemphigoid gestationis is a rare skin disease of pregnancy. It can be misdiagnosed due to its many similarities to other dermatoses of pregnancy, and failure to diagnose can be associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.

Case presentation: We describe a 19-yr-old Iranian primiparous woman who admitted to the Imam Dermatology Clinic, Ahvaz, Iran, at 35 wk of gestation with extensive blistering lesions. Definite diagnosis was confirmed by skin biopsy, and systemic and topical therapies were initiated. The newborn was delivered by cesarean section at 38 wk of gestation due to ruptured membranes and meconium-stained amniotic fluid. The infant appeared healthy, with no skin manifestations. The disease flared after postpartum corticosteroid tapering, requiring re-escalation of therapy. At 6 wk postpartum, hyperpigmentation was fading without scarring, and pruritus was limited to new lesions.

Conclusion: Timely diagnosis and multidisciplinary management of pemphigoid gestationis can prevent adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The observed meconium passage at 38 wk warrants further investigation into potential fetal effects of this condition.