BMJ 2007;335:1152-1154 (1 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39374.504884.BE
Practice
A Patient's Journey
Pemphigus vulgaris
Siri Lowe, patient
Pemphigus Vulgaris Network, London
siri.lowe@btopenworld.com
Twelve years ago, Siri Lowe developed pemphigus vulgaris, a potentially fatal autoimmune blistering disorder. As her story shows, it can have a devastating impact on patients' lives, as can the side effects of the necessary treatments
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Introduction
When my mouth and tongue suddenly became badly blistered in 1995, I never suspected there could be anything seriously wrong with me—this was surely just some crazy infection in my mouth. But it was pemphigus vulgaris, a rare, life threatening, autoimmune disease affecting skin and mucous membranes, and, of course, I'd never heard of it in my life.I deteriorated quickly and in only five weeks moved from being strong and healthy to being unable to eat solid food, drinking through a straw, and being in agonising pain. I remember walking the London streets in a total daze thinking, "This can't be true, it's like the script of a bad television play." I had no idea how living with a chronic disease would change my life.
There's no cure for pemphigus. No smart drug to take it all away. It is nearly always controllable, but that control comes at a
The early days
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Where am I now?
A doctor's perspectiveWhat works well and what doesn't
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Rapid Responses:
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- Novel therapies for pemphigus are desperately needed
- Nicola Cirillo, et al.
bmj.com, 5 Dec 2007 [Full text] - Pemphigus is curable in India since 1982
- Dr. Jagjit Singh Pasricha
bmj.com, 10 Jan 2008 [Full text] - Pemphigus is Responding to DCP
- Dr Rajesh M Buddhadev
bmj.com, 15 Feb 2008 [Full text]
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