Multidisciplinary Approach in Treating Pemphigus Vulgaris by an Internist: A Case Report

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disorder that affects the skin and mucosal membrane.Diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris can take up to 10 months.Early treatment and management is vital to help decrease mortality.We describe a 69-year-old female with skin lesions who presented to a hospital with no inpatient dermatology specialty.The patient was found to have pemphigus vulgaris.The shortage of dermatologists in the United States and the inability to transfer the patient to a higher level of care, lead to innovative and collaborative approaches between specialties.This case study highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach in treating pemphigus vulgaris in an institution without a dermatology department.Hence, collaboration between internal medicine hospitalists, burn care specialists, and infectious disease helped successfully treat the patient with pemphigus vulgaris.