Skin and sensibility: The story of bullae on the human surface

Abstract

This review presents a concise delineation of the historical roots of nomenclature and first reports of entities recognized today as immunoblistering dermatoses. The scope of the perspective of terminology is the time from Hippocrates BC to past mid-twentieth century AD, and pemphigus is the core of the matter. Researchers in this field may find these important historic facts interesting and useful as a quick reference.

Keywords::

• Pemphigus
• pemphigoid
• skin
• antibody
• antigen

Acknowledgements

Professor Arne A. Ambros (Vienna), Dr Roberto Doglia Azambuja (Brasilia), Professor Albert Dietrich (Göttingen), Dr Louis Dulieu (Montpellier), Professor John A.A. Hunter (Edinburgh), Professor Samuel Kottek (Jerusalem), Professor Charles Lapière (Liege), Mme Dolores Liret (Paris),Professor Ma. Kanwen (Beijing/London), Herr MA Jian (Vienna), Dr Roger Meyer (Geneva), Professor Lawrence Charles Parish (Philadelphia), Dozent Dr Harald Riedl (Vienna), Professor Leonid S. Rosenstrauch (Moscow), Professor Manfred Ullmann (Töbingen), Professor Viadimir Vladimirow (Moscow), Dr Daniel Wallach (Paris), Dr Franz Wawrik (Vienna).

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