Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita: The Rare, Acquired, Chronic
Disease of Blister Formation Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita (EBA) is a rare, acquired, autoimmune disease that produces the formation of blisters on the skin after minor trauma (“Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinic”, 2015). Due to small rubs and strains, blisters are commonly seen on the skin. EBA does not only affect the skin, but it can also affect the eyes, nails, mouth, esophagus, and lungs. (Prabhu, Ramesh, Rekka, Swathi, 2011). EBA has a range of mild to life threatening symptoms (Prabhu, et al., 2011). At its mildest state, EBA is confined to the hands and feet making it very difficult and painful to hold objects and walk (Prabhu et al., 2011). In more severe cases, all of the …show more content…
A positive diagnosis for EBA demonstrates that absence of anchoring fibrils in an immunofluorescence microscopy. Analysis of mutations can also provide essential information when diagnosing in early infancy (Aoyama, Hiroka, Kitajima, Murase, Nagai, Nakano, Ohashi, Sawamura, Seishima, Shu, 2011).
Signs and Symptoms of EBA Many EBA patients have an inflammatory skin blister phenotype (Krol, Lofgren, 2011). Blistering around the eyes and nose and blistering around the mouth and esophagus cause feeding difficulties and dysphagia (Krol, Lofgren, 2011). Tooth decay, cough and other breathing problems, alopecia, milia, and nail loss are other symptoms of Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita (Krol, Lofgren, 2011). EBA may not occur until the toddler age when they begin to walk and partake in more physical activities that trigger friction (Aoyama et al., 2011).
Treatment of EBA Many people with mild Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita require little to no treatment; however, patients with more severe forms of EBA require daily intensive care and treatment (“Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinic”, 2015). There is no cure for EBA, but current treatments of severe EBA focus on the use of cyclosporine, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and wound healing and protection of the skin (“Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinic”,
Disease of Blister Formation Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita (EBA) is a rare, acquired, autoimmune disease that produces the formation of blisters on the skin after minor trauma (“Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinic”, 2015). Due to small rubs and strains, blisters are commonly seen on the skin. EBA does not only affect the skin, but it can also affect the eyes, nails, mouth, esophagus, and lungs. (Prabhu, Ramesh, Rekka, Swathi, 2011). EBA has a range of mild to life threatening symptoms (Prabhu, et al., 2011). At its mildest state, EBA is confined to the hands and feet making it very difficult and painful to hold objects and walk (Prabhu et al., 2011). In more severe cases, all of the …show more content…
A positive diagnosis for EBA demonstrates that absence of anchoring fibrils in an immunofluorescence microscopy. Analysis of mutations can also provide essential information when diagnosing in early infancy (Aoyama, Hiroka, Kitajima, Murase, Nagai, Nakano, Ohashi, Sawamura, Seishima, Shu, 2011).
Signs and Symptoms of EBA Many EBA patients have an inflammatory skin blister phenotype (Krol, Lofgren, 2011). Blistering around the eyes and nose and blistering around the mouth and esophagus cause feeding difficulties and dysphagia (Krol, Lofgren, 2011). Tooth decay, cough and other breathing problems, alopecia, milia, and nail loss are other symptoms of Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita (Krol, Lofgren, 2011). EBA may not occur until the toddler age when they begin to walk and partake in more physical activities that trigger friction (Aoyama et al., 2011).
Treatment of EBA Many people with mild Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita require little to no treatment; however, patients with more severe forms of EBA require daily intensive care and treatment (“Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinic”, 2015). There is no cure for EBA, but current treatments of severe EBA focus on the use of cyclosporine, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and wound healing and protection of the skin (“Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinic”,