The association of bullous pemphigoid with dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors: a ten-year prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid is the most common bullous chronic autoimmune skin disease.

Recent studies have suggested dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors as possible predisposing agents of bullous pemphigoid.

The objective of our study was to prospectively estimate the association between gliptins and the development of bullous pemphigoid.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective study which included all patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven bullous pemphigoid in the Dermatology Department of our hospital between April 1, 2009 and December 31,2019.

The diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid was based on specific clinical, histological and immunological features.

RESULTS: Overall 113 consecutive patients (age 75 ± 13 years, 62 females) with the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid were enrolled.

Seventy-six patients (67.3%) suffered from type 2 Diabetes and 52 (46%) were treated with dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors.

The most frequent prescribed gliptin was vildagliptin, being administered to 45 cases (39.8% of total patients enrolled, 86.5% of the patients treated with gliptins).

Gliptins were withdrawn immediately after the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid, which together with steroid administration led to remission of the rash.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that treatment with dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors, especially vildagliptin, is significantly associated with an increased risk of bullous pemphigoid development.