cicatricial pemphigoid

cic·a·tri·cial pem·phi·goid

(sik'ă-trish'ăl pem'fi-goyd)

A chronic disease that produces adhesions and progressive cicatrization and shrinkage of the conjunctival, oral, and vaginal mucous membranes.

pemphigoid, cicatricial 

A rare, idiopathic, chronic systemic disease, most commonly of the elderly and characterized by recurrent blisters and bullae of the skin and mucous membranes, with subsequent scarring and shrinkage. The disease may affect only the conjunctiva (ocular pemphigoid). In this case, the clinical picture is a conjunctivitis with hyperaemia, mucous discharge and small vesicles, which on bursting result in ulceration, pseudomembranes, conjunctival subepithelial fibrosis and conjunctival shrinkage. The disease may give rise to adhesion between the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva (symblepharon), ankyloblepharon, xerophthalmia, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, entropion, trichiasis and dry eye with corneal ulcer. There is pain or irritation and blurred vision. Treatment includes corticosteroids, surgery for entropion and trichiasis, and keratoprosthesis if vision is affected. Syn. benign mucous pemphigoid. See pseudomembranous conjunctivitis; Stevens-Johnson syndrome; ocular ferning test.

be·nign mu·cous mem·brane pem·phi·goid

(bĕ-nin myūkŭs membrān pemfi-goyd)

Blistering disease chiefly involving the subepidermal mucous membranes of mouth and eye (ocular pemphigus); usually chronic, benign, and typically bilateral. Scarring can occur and may lead to progressive shrinkage and tightening of the affected mucous membranes and connective tissues.
Synonym(s): cicatricial pemphigoid, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.