Anhalt G J, Martins C, Rivitti E, Diaz L A
Department of Dermatology, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Adv Dermatol. 1989;4:73-93; discussion 94.
Fogo selvagem presents our specialty with a unique situation. The disease is fundamentally identical to the pemphigus foliaceus that we are familiar with in North America, but there is impressive epidemiologic and circumstantial evidence that an environmental factor is producing this highly specific autoimmune phenomenon. If one can define this factor and investigate the mechanisms operative in the promotion of the disease, one would develop major new insights into both the normal function of the immune system and the specific disease state. Implications for understanding other autoimmune diseases are also obvious. However, to overcome the difficult logistics of studying these patients by modern techniques presents a formidable task. Hopefully, with the cooperation of interested investigators in both Brazil and the United States, these problems can be overcome.
类天疱疮为我们的专业领域呈现了一种独特的情况。这种疾病从根本上来说与我们在北美所熟知的落叶型天疱疮相同，但有令人瞩目的流行病学和间接证据表明，一种环境因素正在引发这种高度特异性的自身免疫现象。如果能够确定这一因素并研究促使该疾病发生的作用机制，人们将对免疫系统的正常功能和特定疾病状态获得重大的新见解。对理解其他自身免疫性疾病的意义也很明显。然而，通过现代技术研究这些患者面临的困难后勤工作是一项艰巨的任务。希望在巴西和美国感兴趣的研究人员的合作下，这些问题能够得到解决。
