Single Center Retrospective Study of Patients with Ocular Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (MMP)

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) with ocular involvement often leads to devastating vision loss from ocular surface disease. This study sought to better characterize presenting symptoms, clinical characteristics, important factors in clinical progression, and visual acuity over time.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed on 88 patients seen at the Emory Eye Center between January 1, 2012 and July 1, 2017 for ocular MMP.

Results

A large percentage of patients with MMP presented at later stages. Partial or complete loss of the fornices and symblepharon were the most common initial disease complications. The time to clinical stabilization usually occurred 1 year after initial presentation.

Conclusions

Ocular MMP is a devastating disease that often presents to tertiary care hospitals at late stages and leads to numerous eyelid and ocular surface changes. This study demonstrated that presenting clinical signs are broad and that stabilization of visual acuity takes months.

KEYWORDS:

• Mucous membrane pemphigoid
• ocular cicatricial pemphigoid
• autoimmune blistering diseases
• visual acuity

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

IRB Approval Status

Reviewed and approved by Emory University; Approval #00054860.

Additional information

Funding

This article has no funding source.