Type : Other, mainly phenotypes with suspected mendelian basis;
Description : Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare, blistering autoimmune disease that affects the
skin and mucous membranes. Patients have circulating antibody to an intercellular
cement substance, and deposition in vivo of this antibody is a hallmark of the disease.
The antibody appears to be pathogenetic, since newborn infants of mothers with pemphigus
may have blisters, and newborn mice injected with the antibody from patients have
clinical pemphigus. The disease is reported to have a particularly high incidence
among Jews (summary by Ahmed et al., 1990).;