herpes gestationis
Enable an agent to recognise suspected herpes gestationis, assess diagnostic certainty and disease activity, and support coordinated dermatological and obstetric decisions.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 11 layers · 15 findings · 25 questions
Identity and disease boundaries Anchor the historical registry name to the clinical disease and its nearest alternatives.
Historical name and concept
Preserve registry identity while making clinical terminology explicit.
Pemphigoid gestationis equivalence
Herpes gestationis is a historical synonym of pemphigoid gestationis. [DermNet](https://dermnetnz.org/topics/pemphigoid-gestationis)
- Does the originating record use herpes gestationis to mean pemphigoid gestationis? definition
- Does an existing Vercy publication already own this concept and require a registry link? boundary
Pregnancy rash differential
Make competing explanations and discriminatory evidence explicit.
Alternative diagnoses
Record why polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, other pemphigoid disorders or infection remain plausible or have been excluded.
- Which clinical and laboratory observations distinguish this episode from polymorphic eruption of pregnancy? boundary
- Which atypical features require investigation for infection or another blistering disorder? action
Diagnostic evidence Connect the observed eruption to tissue and circulating-antibody evidence.
Clinical evolution
Reconstruct the sequence from itch to visible lesions.
Onset and distribution
Record first symptoms, initial sites, umbilical involvement and subsequent blister formation.
- When did itch, plaques and the first blisters appear relative to gestation or delivery? measurement
- Which sites are involved, spared or atypical, and who documented the examination? provenance
Tissue and serology
Retain specimen-level evidence and interpretation limits.
Immunological support
Capture histology, direct immunofluorescence and BP180 serology with sampling details rather than a single positive-test flag.
- What did histology and direct immunofluorescence show, and were specimen site and handling appropriate? provenance
- What BP180 assay, result and reference interval were reported, and how did the specialist interpret discordant findings? measurement
Maternal activity and course Represent current skin burden and changes across reproductive events.
Active skin burden
Measure new disease activity separately from accumulated skin damage.
Activity and complications
Track new blisters, erosions, itch, sleep loss and assessed secondary infection.
- How many new blisters developed during the stated interval, and how extensive are active lesions? measurement
- Do itch, sleep loss, painful erosions or suspected infection warrant earlier clinical review? action
Postpartum and recurrence
Link activity changes to delivery and subsequent reproductive history.
Episode continuity
Record delivery-associated flares, persistent postpartum activity, remission and later recurrence as distinct events.
- Did activity resolve, persist or flare after delivery, and was treatment still being used? measurement
- What evidence separates a new recurrence from uninterrupted disease or a different eruption? boundary
Pregnancy and neonatal interface Link maternal disease to obstetric surveillance and newborn assessment.
Obstetric surveillance
Record the pregnancy-specific monitoring plan and its responsible clinician.
Growth and delivery assessment
Link disease onset and activity to documented fetal growth assessments and delivery outcomes without asserting individual causation.
- What growth measurements and gestational dating support the obstetric assessment? measurement
- What surveillance and escalation plan has the obstetric team agreed in light of disease activity? action
Newborn handover
Keep maternal disease and neonatal findings linked but separately assessed.
Neonatal skin assessment
Record newborn skin findings and their clinical interpretation rather than automatically assigning the maternal diagnosis.
- Has the neonatal team received the maternal diagnosis, supporting evidence and treatment history? action
- If the newborn has blisters, what assessment distinguishes transferred-antibody effects from infection or another disorder? boundary
Treatment and follow-up decisions Connect clinician-selected interventions to activity, reproductive context and observed response.
Treatment selection and response
Document why a treatment was chosen and whether its intended effects occurred.
Exposure-response assessment
Record topical or systemic treatment, exposure dates, adherence, response and adverse effects for specialist review.
- What activity and symptom burden justified the selected treatment at this reproductive stage? action
- After the documented exposure, did new blister formation and itch improve, and what adverse effects were assessed? measurement
Reassessment and future planning
Preserve a plan for unresolved disease and later reproductive decisions.
Review and recurrence plan
Record follow-up ownership, clinician-directed treatment changes and counselling needs.
- What findings trigger diagnostic reconsideration, treatment escalation or review of a taper? action
- What previous recurrence or suspected hormonal association should inform future pregnancy and contraception counselling? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of herpes gestationis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of herpes gestationis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of herpes gestationis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of herpes gestationis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of herpes gestationis this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Information and virtual systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- INF
- Domain
- INF.KNW
What it is Filled
Herpes gestationis, now usually called pemphigoid gestationis, is a rare pregnancy-associated autoimmune blistering disease in which antibodies targeting the skin's basement membrane, principally BP180, cause intensely itchy inflammatory lesions and subepidermal blisters during pregnancy or the postpartum period.
In scope
- Condition identity and distinction from infectious herpes and other pregnancy eruptions
- Clinical presentation and immunopathological diagnostic evidence
- Maternal skin activity, symptom burden and complications
- Pregnancy timing, postpartum persistence and recurrent episodes
- Condition-specific treatment assessment and maternal-fetal coordination
Out of scope
- Herpes simplex and varicella-zoster infections as separate diseases
- Bullous pemphigoid outside the gestational disease context
- Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy and other alternative diagnoses
- General pregnancy management and independent obstetric disorders
- Drug pharmacology and prescribing protocols
- Independent neonatal blistering disorders
Why it exists Filled
Enable an agent to recognise suspected herpes gestationis, assess diagnostic certainty and disease activity, and support coordinated dermatological and obstetric decisions.
Distinguishing features Filled
- The historical word 'herpes' does not establish viral infection; the condition belongs to autoimmune blistering disease. [DermNet](https://dermnetnz.org/topics/pemphigoid-gestationis)
- Pruritic plaques beginning around the umbilicus and evolving into tense blisters support recognition, although early disease may lack blisters. [EADV](https://eadv.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/EADV-Pregnancy-TF_-Pemphigoid-Gestationis-PG.pdf)
- Linear C3 deposition at the dermoepidermal junction on direct immunofluorescence supports the diagnosis and helps distinguish it from polymorphic eruption of pregnancy. [DermNet](https://dermnetnz.org/topics/pemphigoid-gestationis)
- Pregnancy-associated onset and a compatible course distinguish gestational pemphigoid from other pemphigoid presentations; antibody results require clinical context. [StatPearls](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470287/)
- A flare around delivery or recurrence with later pregnancies supports the longitudinal pattern without being a required diagnostic feature. [EADV](https://eadv.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/EADV-Pregnancy-TF_-Pemphigoid-Gestationis-PG.pdf)
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Diagnose the condition or rule it out from a description or photo.
- Recommend steroids or other drugs during pregnancy.
- Imply the condition is a sexually transmitted infection.
- Share a person's pregnancy or diagnosis without consent.
Only with a human decision
- Any decision on treatment during pregnancy or after birth.
May
- Explain pemphigoid gestationis and why it is not related to the herpes virus, citing medical sources.
- Advise a pregnant person with a blistering itchy rash to contact their maternity team.
Moral aspects Filled
- The old name causes needless shame by suggesting a sexual infection.
- Treatment in pregnancy affects both the mother and the baby.
Who is affected
- Pregnant people
- Newborns
- Maternity clinicians
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns the condition; clinicians answer for each patient's care.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q5262714 - registry parent class
- Q7923229 - registry parent class
- Q881811 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.herpes-gestationis
- Wikidata: Q8280 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8280)
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
- Diagnostic certainty: suspected | supported | specialist-confirmed | reconsidered; dated evidence
- Reproductive timing: gestational weeks and days, or days since delivery
- Lesion phenotype and distribution: urticarial plaques | vesicles | tense bullae | erosions; affected sites and umbilical involvement
- Skin activity: new blisters per day and affected body surface area percentage; dated method
- Itch burden: 0-10 reported intensity with recall period; sleep disruption recorded separately
- Immunopathology: direct immunofluorescence pattern, histology findings, specimen site and adequacy
- BP180 antibody result: laboratory-reported titre or concentration, assay units and reference interval
- Episode relationship: linked pregnancy, delivery, previous episode and possible hormonal exposure
- Treatment response: unassessed | improving | controlled on treatment | flaring | persistent despite treatment
Plane INF: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Intensely itchy, raised red plaques often begin around the navel before spreading across the trunk and limbs.
- Tense fluid-filled blisters can develop on inflamed skin, helping distinguish established disease from pregnancy eruptions without blisters.
- The face and mucous membranes are usually spared, but appearance alone cannot confirm the diagnosis.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Assemble a diagnostic evidence summary for dermatology review.
- Identify missing or discordant evidence before accepting the diagnosis.
- Track itch, new blister formation and healing through pregnancy and postpartum follow-up.
- Prepare a coordinated dermatology, obstetric and neonatal handover.
- Compare documented treatment response with adverse effects and reproductive context.
- Preserve recurrence history for future pregnancy and contraception counselling.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Severe itching and blistering can disrupt sleep and damage the skin barrier.
- Damaged skin can develop secondary infection.
- Affected pregnancies have increased risks of preterm birth and impaired fetal growth.
- Maternal antibodies can occasionally cause temporary blistering in the newborn.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- The World Health Organization classifies herpes gestationis under ICD-10 code O26.4.
Context of use required Filled
- Pemphigoid gestationis is encountered in dermatological and obstetric care during pregnancy or after childbirth.
- Recognising the condition supports assessment of maternal skin disease, diagnostic confirmation and coordinated pregnancy monitoring.
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q8280: herpes gestationis - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Gestational pemphigoid - general description of the item
Open questions
- Which diagnostic criteria should the model adopt for suspected disease with negative or discordant immunofluorescence and serology?
- Which activity measure and response thresholds are sufficiently validated specifically for pemphigoid gestationis?
- How reliably do onset timing, blister burden and BP180 titres predict obstetric outcomes and justify different surveillance intensity?
- What evidence supports treatment choices for refractory disease during pregnancy and lactation?
- How should persistent postpartum disease and rare presentations associated with trophoblastic disease be bounded against other pemphigoid models?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q8280/spec.json