Zeid OA, Rashed L, Khalifa S, et al. - Researchers undertook this case‐control study to determine serum concentrations of soluble PD1 (programmed cell death protein 1) [sPD1] among patients with active pemphigus vulgaris (PV) as well as in those in remission to ultimately assess its impact on disease severity. Participants were 60 pemphigus vulgaris cases (including 30 clinically active and 30 in a clinical remission) as well as 30 age matched healthy controls. Significantly lower serum levels of sPD1 were detected in PV patients vs in controls and levels were significantly lower in cases exhibiting active disease vs those in remission. A negative correlation of serum sPD1 with disease severity was identified. Overall, findings indicate a defect in PD1 pathway in PV patients, and also show a substantial role of this defect in ascertaining disease severity. Therefore, sPD1 could be regarded as a beneficial marker for disease severity. A potential goal for future therapies of PV may be to target PD1 pathway.