AboutPV
For Patients and Carers
How is PV diagnosed?
PV or a similar condition may first be identified by your general practitioner (GP) or family doctor, dentist or gynecologist, depending on where your symptoms first appear. If you are experiencing persistent painful blisters in your mouth that are taking longer than you would expect to heal, weeks rather than days, it is important to get this checked by your GP. Although it is extremely rare, rapid diagnosis of PV is important so that treatment to manage the disease can be started as early as possible. It is also important to look out for signs of infection, which may include the skin becoming painful and hot, pus in the blisters or red streaks coming away from the blisters.
If your doctor suspects you have a blistering skin disease, such as PV, they should refer you to a specialist dermatologist, who will examine the blisters and lesions in your mouth, on your skin, and any other affected areas of the body. 1As PV is similar to other skin blistering diseases, your dermatologist will request a series of tests that can confirm if you have PV. These tests will involve providing a blood sample and some small samples (biopsies) from the affected parts of the body.1
The four key features needed to confirm a diagnosis of PV
- Blisters and/or lesions on the skin, in the mouth or other effected body partsYour doctor will examine the extent of the blisters and lesions on the skin, in the mouth and any other affected areas of the body
- Confirmation that cells are not gluing together properlyA small biopsy of affected skin with either a blister or lesions will be examined under a microscope. This will confirm that the skin structure is compromised by the cells not gluing together properly
- PV antibodies present in the affected skin or body partsA small biopsy of affected skin is examined using a technique call direct immunofluorescence to see if anti-desmoglein antibodies are present
- PV antibodies found in the circulation (blood)A blood sample will be taken and tested for anti-desmoglein antibodies. This method can also be used to monitor activity of PV
Once PV is confirmed, your specialist will be able to begin treatment that can get PV under control, minimizing the symptoms of PV and the impact of the condition on your daily life.
References
- Hertl M, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015; 29:405-414.
