Perfil sociodemográfico e distribuição dos casos de pênfigo foliáceo endêmico nas diferentes regiões do estado de Minas Gerais, no período de 2005 a 2006

Abstract

Pemphigus foliaceus is an autoimmune blistering disease, which isendemic in some Brazilian states where it is named endemic pemphigus foliaceus or fogo selvagem (EPF/FS) and which occurs sporadically elsewhere in the world. The geographic distribution of endemic pemphigus foliaceus has been changing gradually over the years. Its frequency has dropped in areas where it was highly prevalent in the past, and new cases have been detected in areas previously free of the disease. This study evaluates the prevalence of the diseasein the state of Minas Gerais, its epidemiologic characteristics and its distribution in geographic regions. The study was developed by the analysis of the charts of patients who were been treated in the Dermatology Clinic at the University Hospital in the state of Minas Gerais - Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG - and at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Belo Horizonte as well as by a questionnaire sent to all dermatologists, members of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology in Minas Gerais, and to main dermatology care units in the state. The disease was diagnosed in 256 patients in the state of Minas Gerais between 2005 and 2006. The prevalence of EPF/FS was 1.22 per 100.00 inhabitants. Both sexes were equally affected. There was a predominance of patients in rural areas, and in nonwhites. Genetically related family members were affected in some cases (5,1%). The disease was more frequent in individuals between 22-45 years of age (46.88%), which happens to be the most represented age group in the state. Statistical analysis has shown lower incidence in children under the age of 12. However, that was not true for the other age groups. Housewives and domestic employees as well as farmers were more commonly affected than other professions. The Metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte showed the greatest number of cases (39.68%), followed by Triângulo Mineiro/Alto Paranaíba (21.43%), Zona da Mata (6.75%), Vale do Rio Doce (5.56%), Jequitinhonha andSul/Sudoeste (5.16% each), Oeste (3.97%), Norte and Central (3.57% each) and Campo das Vertentes (0.79%). No patients of EPF/FS were diagnosed in the Noroeste region and Vale do Mucuri during the two year period of the study. When comparing this study with the ones carried out in 1945 and 1990, it is evident that both the incidence and the prevalence of the disease are decreasing in the state. The Metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte is the most important focus and Triângulo Mineiro/Alto Paranaíba ranks second in number of cases, with a growing percentage of patients through the years..