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Ocular ‘nonscarring’ mucous membrane pemphigoid associated with antilaminin‐5 antibodies
Author(s) -
Coronella G,
Amato L,
Berti S,
Moretti S,
Terracina M,
Mastrogiacomo A,
Fabbri P
Publication year - 2005
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.1365-2230.2005.01923.x
Subject(s) - conjunctiva , medicine , pathology , cicatricial pemphigoid , pemphigoid , basement membrane , antibody , laminin , mucous membrane , autoimmune disease , immunofluorescence , dermatology , immunology , bullous pemphigoid , chemistry , biochemistry , cell
Summary Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a rare, chronic autoimmune disease characterized by subepidermal blistering and scarring, predominantly affecting mucous membranes. Ocular involvement frequently occurs and often represents the only manifestation of the disease. We describe a 62‐year‐old woman with a bilateral 18‐month duration of conjunctival hyperaemia, associated with erythema and oedema of the eyelids, lacking any typical ocular signs of mucous membrane pemphigoid such as subconjuctival fibrosis and scarring. Histology was not significant. Direct immunofluorescence of the conjunctiva showed IgG, IgA and complement deposition along the basement membrane zone. Immunoprecipitation analysis of affinity purified laminin‐5 revealed a band consistent with the β3 chain of laminin‐5. This represents the first case of pure ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid associated with antilaminin‐5 antibodies.