Elevated serum eosinophil cationic protein and transforming growth factor-α levels in a patient with pemphigus vegetans.

Pemphigus vegetans (PVeg) is a rare variant of pemphigus, characterized by vegetating lesions mainly with antidesmoglein 3 antibodies. However, the pathomechanisms for PVeg is still unknown. We present a patient with PVeg mainly associated with antidesmocollin (Dsc)3 antibodies, who originally developed pemphigus foliaceus. Serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein and transforming growth factor (TGF)-α increased at the onset of PVeg in this patient. Thus, TGF-α might be involved in the formation of vegetating lesions in PVeg.