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Indirect complement immunofluorescence in the immunopathological assessment of bullous pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, and herpes gestationis

1978; Oxford University Press; Volume: 3; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1365-2230.1978.tb01461.x

1365-2230

L. HODGE, Martin M. Black, N. Ramnarain, B. Bhogal,

Coagulation, Bradykinin, Polyphosphates, and Angioedema

Sera from 50 untreated patients with bullous pemphigoid were examined by both the customary method of indirect immunofluorescence using anti IgG conjugate and by indirect complement immunofluorescence using anti C3 conjugate to detect circulating antibasement membrane zone antibodies. A circulating antibasement membrane zone antibody could be detected by the IgG method in 58% and by the C3 method in 76%. Sera from six patients with cicatricial pemphigoid examined in the same way showed a circulating antibasement membrane zone antibody in one by the IgG method but in three by the C3 method of indirect immunofluorescence. Sera from ten patients with active herpes gestationis contained anti-basement membrane zone antibody demonstrable by the C3 method in every case and by the IgG method of indirect immunofluorescence in one of these. Basement membrane zone bound IgG, or more commonly C3 in a linear pattern, was shown by direct immunofluorescence in all patients with bullous or cicatricial pemphigoid from whom adequate biopsy material was obtained. The immunopathological similarities of bullous pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid and herpes gestationis are stressed, and the usefulness of indirect complement immunofluorescence in their diagnosis is emphasized.