Pemphigus: Clinical study of 68 patients 5 years ago in Aden, Yemen

Background: Pemphigus is a rare disease with an incidence range from 0.5 to 32.0 per 1,000,000 in different geographic areas and ethnic groups. Objective: To describe the epidemiological and clinical pattern of pemphigus. Materials and methods: The records of 68 patients diagnosed with pemphigus were reviewed. Documented information of the patients during the period of January 2018 to December 2022 were extracted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. The collected data were tabulated and statistical analysis was done by estimating rates, means and standard deviations. The chi-square test was used to compare final outcomes. Fisher test was used and p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The total study patients were 68. They were (61.8%) females and (38.2%) males. The mean age at the onset of disease was 49.1 ± 14.4 years. Pemphigus vulgaris was the most common type (88.2%), followed by pemphigus foliaceus (10.3%). The most common site of involvement of pemphigus was in mucocutaneous (72.1%). Most of the patients (60.3%) were treated by a combination of corticosteroid and azathioprine, (p = 0.000). The complete remission of lesions after 2 months was (73.5%). Conclusion: Pemphigus vulgaris was the most common type. Females were predominant and the patients of the age group 50 years and the age group > 50 years were to some extent equally affected. The most common site of involvement was mucocutaneous. Most of the patients were treated by a combination of corticosteroid and azathioprine. Key words: Pemphigus, clinical study, Aden, Yemen