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Recurrent and continuous erythema multiforme– a clinical and immunological study
Author(s) -
LEIGH I.M.,
MOWBRAY J.F.,
LEVENE G.M.,
SUTHERLAND S.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1985.tb02553.x
Subject(s) - medicine , university hospital , dermatology , library science , family medicine , computer science
Summary A series of 26 patients with recurrent erythema multiforme was studied. A distinct clinical and immunological subgroup was found called ‘continuous erythema multiforme’ characterized by the presence of atypical lesions in addition to typical lesions, both of which occur continuously and a high level of circulating immune complexes with low levels of haemolytic complement. Herpes labialis preceded erythema multiforme in 17 of the 26 patients (65%) but in no cases could live virus be isolated from the lesions of erythema multiforme. Circulating immune complexes were found in 50 of 129 sera, being found in only 18 % sera between attacks and more commonly in the first 24 h of erythema multiforme lesions (58%). Immunological studies failed to provide conclusive evidence that erythema multiforme is solely immune complex mediated.