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Effect of pemphigoid gestationis (PG) on the baby

Even though there is a slight increase in the risk of premature delivery, there is no direct adverse effect on the baby from this condition.

Causes of pemphigoid gestationis

This is an autoimmune condition. This means the individual develops antibodies against some normal body proteins. What triggers the development of these hostile antibodies is not known.

Whilst the condition is associated with pregnancy, in rare cases the condition can recur after delivery when the periods resume or if the new mother starts taking the oral contraceptive pill.

Pemphigoid gestationis almost invariably resolve completely within a few weeks of delivery. In some rare cases, symptoms have been known to persist for several months.

How common is Pemphigoid gestationis?

Pemphigoid gestationis is quite rare. It has been estimated to affect 2 out of every 100,000 pregnancies. There is also a racial difference with Caucasians being more affected than black women.

Other skin conditions in pregnancy

There are a score more skin disorders which are less common but distinct conditions. It is not unusual for a woman to present with a skin condition the diagnosis of which eludes all the ‘experts’.

As a general rule, the absence of a specific diagnosis should not be a cause for alarm. The important issue is to exclude the conditions that may have undesirable effects on the pregnancy. Once this is established and the only complaint is itching, control of the symptoms is all that is required. Having said all that, it remains true that symptom control is usually disappointing as the available safe remedies are hardly ever effective.

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