The privileged position of the fetus, containing foreign protein that is not rejected by its mother, has intrigued biologists for many years. More recently, it has been realised that certain maternal autoimmune diseases, particularly immune thrombocytopenia, Graves' disease, pemphigoid gestationis (herpes gestationis), myasthenia gravis, and systemic lupus erythematosus may affect the fetus by ...

Pemphigoid gestationis may begin during the first or any subsequent pregnancy. It may develop between 9 weeks of gestation and one week postpartum, but most frequently it presents during the second and third trimesters. Although few patients experience less trouble during succeeding pregnancy, the condition is most likely to recur in subsequent pregnancies, usually with an earlier onset and mor...

Many skin diseases can occur in pregnant women. However, a few pruritic dermatological conditions are unique to pregnancy, including pemphigoid gestationis (PG). As PG is associated with severe morbidity for pregnant women and carries fetal risks, it is important for the clinician to quickly recognize this disease and refer it for dermatological evaluation and treatment. Herein, we review the p...

The privileged position of the fetus, containing foreign protein that is not rejected by its mother, has intrigued biologists for many years. More recently, it has been realised that certain maternal autoimmune diseases, particularly immune thrombocytopenia, Graves' disease, pemphigoid gestationis (herpes gestationis), myasthenia gravis, and systemic lupus erythematosus may affect the fetus by ...

Dermatoses unique to pregnancy are important to recognize for the clinician as they carry considerable morbidity for pregnant mothers and in some instances constitute a risk to the fetus. These diseases include pemphigoid gestationis, polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and atopic eruption of pregnancy. This review discusses the pathogenesis, clinical impor...

Until recently the specific dermatoses of pregnancy were ill-understood and characterized by numerous and rather misleading terminology. In 19831 the following simplified clinical classification of the specific dermatoses of pregnancy was proposed: 1) Pemphigoid "Herpes" Gestationis. 2) Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy (PUPPP). 3) Prurigo of Pregnancy (papular dermatitis). 4) Pruritic Follicul...