investigations
Last reviewed 01/2018
- skin biopsy:
- shows subepidermal cleft with a mixed inflammatory infiltrate (often with many eosinophils) in the dermis
- direct immunofluorescence of perilesional skin shows a band of IgG and/or C3 at the dermo-epidermal junction
- circulating antibodies to IgG or C3 seen in 75% of cases
Reference:
- 1. British Association of Dermatologists 2002. Guidelines for the management of bullous pemphigoid
- 2. Beissert S et al. A Comparison of Oral Methylprednisolone Plus Azathioprine or Mycophenolate Mofetil for the Treatment of Bullous Pemphigoid. Arch Dermatol. 2007; 143(12):1536-1542
- 3. Langan S.M. et al. Bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris-incidence and mortality in the UK: population based cohort study. BMJ 2008; 337:a180