Ann Dermatol.  2021 Oct;33(5):467-469. 10.5021/ad.2021.33.5.467.

A Case of Newly Developed Pemphigus Foliaceus and Possible Association with Alternative Bee-Venom Therapy

• Yoo SA
• Park HE
• Kim M

• KMID: 2519934
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2021.33.5.467

Abstract

Bee-venom is composed of a variety of peptides, enzymes, and biogenic amines, and is demonstrated to have both anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulatory effects in human body. Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is a variant of pemphigus, which is a rare autoimmune bullous disease presenting with erythematous scaly crusted plaques. Although the exact pathogenesis was not identified, there have been three case reports of autoimmune disorders associated with bee-venom. In this case, a 64-year-old female was diagnosed with PF, which was developed after alternative bee-venom acupuncture therapy. We assumed that the bee-venom caused the diseases through a temporal relationship and its known immunostimulatory action. Herein, we suggest that physicians recognize the possibility of bee-venom stimulating the immune system and triggering various autoimmune diseases including pemphigus.

Keyword

Autoimmune; diseases; Bee venoms; Immunology; Pemphigus