A 64-year-old male with a history of transverse myelitis and regular use of immunosuppressive agent azathioprine presented to our outpatient clinic with a complaint of disseminated erythematous rash and blisters on the trunk and thighs. He had been treated with aspirin for atrial fibrillation for about a year. Despite treatment with antibiotics and antiviral medications prescribed by the clinic, the symptoms did not improve, and he was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of cellulitis. Subsequent skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. After further assessments, aspirin was discontinued, and intravenous corticosteroid therapy was initiated, leading to symptom improvement. The patient was later discharged for follow-up in the outpatient clinic. Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease that predominantly affects elderly individuals aged 70 and above. Due to multiple comorbidities and increased use of medications that may trigger this disease, the incidence of bullous pemphigoid has been on the rise in recent decades among the elderly population. Aspirin has been suggested to be a potential trigger for bullous pemphigoid in its pathophysiology. Although current systematic reviews do not show a significant association between the two, the increased development of drug-induced skin reactions with the advent of new medications warrants caution. If a patient develops blisters on the skin, along with fever, wheezing, hypotension, skin pain, extensive peeling, or a grayish-purple discoloration, or if the condition affects the eyes, throat, or gastrointestinal mucosa, the medication potentially causing this skin manifestation should be discontinued immediately, and the patient should be referred to a specialist.
The treatment of bullous pemphigoid primarily involves steroids and immunosuppressive agents. Long-term use of these medications may increase the risk of side effects such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, and infections. After patients return to outpatient follow-up, primary care physicians should carefully assess whether the skin lesions have improved. Medication dosage should be gradually reduced with a frequency of every 2-3 weeks, and examinations for medication-related side effects should be arranged based on the patient’s age and condition.