1/80. Anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid: a case associated with gastric carcinoma and features resembling epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. A 48-year-old woman with anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) who showed clinical features resembling epidermolysis bullosa acquisita was found to have adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Histological examination of lesional skin demonstrated a subepidermal blister. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy of perilesional skin revealed linear deposits of IgG and C3 at the basement membrane zone. The patient's serum contained IgG autoantibodies that bound to the dermal side of 1 mol/L NaCl-split normal human skin as determined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, and the lamina lucida as determined by indirect immunoelectron microscopy. The patient's serum immunoprecipitated laminin-5 from extracts and media of biosynthetically radiolabelled human keratinocytes. Immunoblot studies showed that the patient's autoantibodies specifically bound the alpha3 subunit of this laminin isoform. Fragility of the skin and bullous lesions disappeared after total gastrectomy, but soon reappeared possibly in association with metastatic disease in a lymph node. The possibility that anti-epiligrin CP may develop paraneoplastically in some patients is discussed. ( info) |
2/80. epidermolysis bullosa acquisita with combined features of bullous pemphigoid and cicatricial pemphigoid. epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an acquired subepidermal blistering disease associated with autoantibodies against type VII collagen. The classical or mechanobullous form of EBA is characterized by skin fragility, trauma-induced blisters and erosions with mild mucous membrane involvement and healing with scars. Furthermore, bullous-pemphigoid-like and cicatricial pemphigoid-like features have been described. We report a patient who developed a bullous skin disease with upper airway obstruction requiring tracheotomy. The diagnosis of EBA was established by immunoblot, showing a band at 290 kD (collagen VII), and NaCl-split skin immunofluorescence (IgG deposition at the floor of the split). This case presented with clinical features of both bullous pemphigoid and cicatricial pemphigoid which to our knowledge is the first report of such a combination in EBA. The patient also presented tracheal involvement that has never been described either. ( info) |
3/80. Aplasia cutis congenita with epidermolysis bullosa: a case report. A child with epidermolysis bullosa and aplasia cutis congenita is presented. This is a very rare condition that represents an unusual manifestation of epidermolysis bullosa. Management of aplasia cutis congenita is controversial and may be conservative, surgical, or a combination of the two. In this patient, surgical treatment with split-thickness skin grafts failed, and conservative treatment using silver-sulfadiazine cream dressings was instituted. ( info) |
4/80. A case of acquired autoimmune bullous disease associated with IgM macroglobulinaemia. A variety of autoimmune bullous dermatoses have been reported to develop in association with lymphoproliferative disorders. We report a patient with IgM macroglobulinaemia, who presented with a skin fragility similar to but somewhat milder than that seen in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. Immunofluorescence detected circulating IgM autoantibodies reacting with the basement membrane zone, which reacted predominantly with dermal side of 1 M NaCl-split skin. immunoblotting of the epidermal and dermal extracts with the patient's serum showed no specific reactivity. Further studies are needed to identify the antigenic molecules responsible for the IgM deposition. ( info) |
| epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an autoimmune bullous disease with frequent ocular involvement, but visual loss is rare. In contrast, EBA patients with predominant IgA autoantibodies more frequently develop severe ocular involvement, which tends to be refractory to therapy. We report two patients with 'IgA-EBA' with ocular involvement. Both initially presented with a generalized bullous disease, and direct immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated IgA in the basement membrane zone of the skin, and in the conjunctiva and cornea of patient 1. On salt-split patient skin, IgA was found predominantly on the dermal side of the artificial split in both patients. Direct immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated IgA below the lamina densa in close association with the anchoring fibrils in both patients. In patient 1, who had a prolonged course of the disease, the skin disorder responded well to treatment with cyclosporin, but the ocular involvement ended in bilateral blindness despite repeated surgical treatment. In patient 2, the blister formation and scarring conjunctivitis was stopped by a combination of prednisolone and colchicine. These patients show that in subepithelial blistering diseases, early delineation of disease nosology is critical to detect subtypes with severe ocular involvement such as 'IgA-EBA'. In addition, colchicine may be a valuable alternative in the treatment of EBA with ocular involvement. ( info) |
| BACKGROUND: The inflammatory variant of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) may clinically closely resemble bullous or cicatricial pemphigoid. patients with inflammatory EBA have IgG autoantibodies against type VII collagen. patients with anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid have IgG autoantibodies against laminin 5. observation: We describe a patient with inflammatory EBA exhibiting nonscarring oral and vaginal involvement. Indirect immunofluorescence using skin substrate lacking an epidermal basement membrane molecule, direct immunoelectron microscopy, immunoblot, and immunoprecipitation studies revealed the simultaneous presence of circulating IgG autoantibodies against type VII collagen and laminin alpha3. A final diagnosis of EBA was based on the sublamina densa level of blister formation. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates the clinical and immunological overlap between EBA and anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid, a unique finding that may have developed as a consequence of epitope spreading. ( info) |
| A 37-year-old male patient developed a bullous eruption and erythematous plaques mainly in exposed areas following prolonged sun exposure. In addition, blisters were noted on oral and nasal mucous membranes. Histopathological examination of a lesional skin biopsy revealed a subepidermal blister. Linear deposition of IgG and C3 at the epidermal basement membrane zone was revealed by direct immunofluorescence microscopy of a perilesional skin biopsy. Indirect immunofluorescence on 1 mol/L salt-split skin showed binding of autoantibodies to the dermal side of the split. Immunoblot analysis of dermal extracts demonstrated that the patient's serum contained IgG antibodies against type VII collagen, whereas no reaction was seen with epidermal extracts or by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a recombinant form of bullous pemphigoid 180. Standardized ultraviolet (UV) radiation provocation induced blistering with both UVA (13.5 J/cm2) and UVB (0. 04 J/cm2) within 24 h clinically and histologically. External and systemic UV-protective medication and nine cycles of high dosage immunoglobulins given intravenously (1.2 g/kg body weight over 2-3 days every 4 weeks) resulted in the cessation of blister formation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita with sensitivity to UV. ( info) |
| epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is a blistering disorder that has been associated with other autoimmune diseases. It has not previously been associated with relapsing polychondritis (RPC). RPC is an autoimmune disorder that frequently displays peripheral eosinophilia. The eosinophil has been implicated in mediation of tissue damage and bullae formation. RPC should be added to the list of diseases seen in association with EBA. ( info) |
9/80. epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: clinical manifestations, microscopic findings, and surgical periodontal therapy. A case report. BACKGROUND: epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an uncommon, acquired, chronic subepidermal bullous disease. This report describes a case of EBA with gingival involvement. A 43-year-old woman with EBA was referred to our clinic for periodontal therapy because of gingival tenderness and bleeding. She has been on cyclosporin A therapy for the last 2 years. methods: Clinical findings were analyzed. Anterior gingivectomy operations were performed in 2 stages. The samples obtained during the surgery were examined using histopathologic, immunohistologic, and electronmicroscopic methods. Long-term effects of the surgical periodontal treatment on gingiva were evaluated both clinically and microscopically. RESULTS: The dentition displayed minimal enamel hypoplasia. Decayed, missing, and filled surfaces score was found to be elevated. Periodontal examination showed generalized diffuse gingival inflammation and gingival enlargement localized mainly to the anterior region. Nikolsky's sign was positive. However, wound healing was uneventful after the operations. Microscopic findings were similar to those obtained from the skin. Twenty-one months after the operations, Nikolsky's sign was negative and no remarkable gingival inflammation was noted. Microscopic examination revealed that the blisters were fewer in number and smaller in size. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that gingival tissues may also be involved in EBA. Uneventful wound healing after periodontal surgery in this case suggests that periodontal surgery can be performed in patients with EBA. Moreover, both our clinical and histopathologic findings imply that gingivectomy proves useful in maintaining gingival integrity in these patients. Our data may also suggest that the patients with EBA are highly likely to develop dental caries. ( info) |
| PURPOSE: To report clinical and laboratory findings of bilateral corneal involvement in a patient with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. methods: A 25-year-old man with a history of progressive and painless loss of vision in both eyes presented to our service with bilateral corneal involvement: peripheral corneal perforation in one eye and advanced corneal thinning in the other eye. There was concomitant dermatologic bullous disease. Clinical and laboratory exams were analyzed. RESULTS: The patient was diagnosed as having epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. Therapeutic corneal patch graft and conjunctival resection with cryotherapy were done, with satisfactory results. CONCLUSION: Bilateral corneal involvement in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is described. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of such a case. Surgical management of the ocular findings associated with systemic therapy with colchicine seems to be a good therapeutic option in the management of this defying disease. ( info) |