Rescuing a Youth Afflicted with a Disease Originating in Vietnam

A 19-year-old male student from Thanh Hoa, Vietnam, was diagnosed with Pemphigus spondylitis, a rare disease that had not been previously documented in Vietnamese medical literature. The patient initially developed erosive ulcers on the oral mucosa and purple-red patches and scalds on his body in November of the previous year. After being examined at a local hospital, he was transferred to the Central Dermatology Hospital and eventually to Bach Mai Hospital.

After skin biopsy results, doctors determined that the patient had toxic epidermal necrolysis and later diagnosed him with paraneoplastic pemphigus, bilateral ureteral stones, and a weakened physical condition. The treatment process was challenging due to the patient’s poor response to conventional immunotherapy and the presence of multi-resistant infections.

Despite facing multiple difficulties during treatment, including sepsis and urinary tract infections, the patient underwent surgery to remove a large tumor to fully cure the disease. As a result of the collaborative efforts of doctors and continuous consultations, the male student has recovered and was discharged from the hospital.

Throughout the treatment process, the patient’s family remained supportive, and the Health Insurance paid nearly 700 million VND towards his treatment, with the family contributing an additional 53 million VND. Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a rare disease associated with lymphoproliferative disorders and typically occurs in individuals between the ages of 45 and 70.