Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Dermatology and Venerology

Background: Pemphigus vulgaris is a life-threatening autoimmune blistering disease targeting the skin and mucous membranes caused by anti-desmoglein IgG autoantibodies that {uFB01}nally lead to acantholysis presenting clinically as progressive blistering. Programmed death 1 (PD-1) is an immune checkpoint that binds to two ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2 that negatively regulates antigen receptor singling and play a critical role in the immunoregulation of autoimmune diseases. Aim of work: Assessment of serum levels of sPD1 in pemphigus vulgaris patients, and its correlation with clinical severity. Methods: Sixty pemphigus vulgaris patients (30 clinically active and 30 in a clinical remission) and thirty age matched healthy control subjects were included. Full clinical examination was done. For pemphigus patients, severity was measured by PDAI score. Serum levels of sPD1 were measured by ELISA for both patients and healthy control. Results: The level of serum sPD1 was significantly lower in patients than in controls (P<0.001) and significantly lower in active group than remission group (P<0.001). A correlation was done between serum PD1 and severity of pemphigus (PDAI), It revealed a statistically significant negative correlation with PDAI; (P<0.001, r=-0.4). Association between PDAI and mucosal affection revealed that PDAI was statistically significant higher in patients with a mucosal affection (p = 0.001)

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