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Comparison of desmoglein ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence using two substrates (monkey oesophagus and normal human skin) in the diagnosis of pemphigus
Author(s) -
Ng Patricia PL,
Thng Steven TG,
Mohamed Khatija,
Tan Suat Hoon
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2005.00191.x
Subject(s) - immunofluorescence , pemphigus foliaceus , desmoglein 1 , pemphigus vulgaris , pemphigus , medicine , direct fluorescent antibody , pathology , autoantibody , desmoglein , antibody , immunology
SUMMARY A prospective study was performed to assess the usefulness of desmoglein enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay testing compared with indirect immunofluorescence in the diagnosis of new cases of pemphigus, as well as to compare the relative sensitivities of monkey oesophagus and normal human skin as substrates for indirect immunofluorescence. These tests were performed on the sera of 29 consecutive new cases of pemphigus diagnosed over a 2‐year period based on clinical, histological and direct immunofluorescence findings. Desmoglein enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was positive in all patients whereas indirect immunofluorescence was positive in only 25 of 29 patients. All four patients with negative indirect immunofluorescence had positive antinuclear antibodies or cytoplasmic fluorescence that could have masked the anti‐intercellular antibodies. Desmoglein enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay appeared to reflect the disease activity better than indirect immunofluorescence in a few patients who had active disease of recent onset. Monkey oesophagus was found to be superior or equal to human skin as a substrate for indirect immunofluorescence in both pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus.