Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is a sensitive and specific method for the detection of circulating autoantibodies in pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus. Herein, pemphigus erythematosus with equivocal immunofluorescence and non-diagnostic histology, but confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, is described. As a non-invasive, sensitive, and specific assay with additional utility for monitoring disease activity, this case adds to growing evidence supporting ELISA as the diagnostic method of choice for common and less common variants of pemphigus.

Background

Is posttreatment functional status prognostic of overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods

In an HNC clinical trial, 495 patients had two posttreatment functional assessments measuring diet, public eating, and speech within 6 months. Patients were grouped by impairment (highly, moderately, modestly, or not impaired) and determined if they improved, declined, or did not change from the first assessment to the second. Multivariable Cox models estimated overall mortality.

Results

Across all three scales, the change in posttreatment patient function strongly predicted overall survival. In diet, patients who declined to highly impaired had three times the mortality of patients who were not impaired at both assessments (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.60; 95% confidence interval, 2.02-6.42). For patients improving from highly impaired, mortality was statistically similar to patients with no impairment (HR = 1.38; 95% CI, 0.82-2.31).

Conclusions

Posttreatment functional status is a strong prognostic marker of survival in patients with HNC.