• R M Vodegel, M F Jonkman, H H Pas, and M C J M de Jong.
• Center for Blistering Diseases, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
• Br. J. Dermatol. 2004 Jul 1; 151 (1): 112-8.

BackgroundEpidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) can be differentiated from other subepidermal bullous diseases by sophisticated techniques such as immunoelectron microscopy, salt-split skin antigen mapping, fluorescence overlay antigen mapping, immunoblot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ObjectivesTo determine whether the diagnosis can also be made by routine direct immunofluorescence microscopy.MethodsWe studied frozen skin biopsies from 157 patients with various subepidermal immunobullous diseases.ResultsWe found three distinct 'linear' fluorescence patterns at the basement membrane zone: true linear, n-serrated and u-serrated. The true linear pattern, often seen in conjunction with either the n- or the u-serrated pattern, was found in any subepidermal immunobullous disease with nongranular depositions. In bullous pemphigoid, mucous membrane pemphigoid, antiepiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid, p200 pemphigoid and linear IgA disease the n-serrated pattern was found, corresponding with depositions located in hemidesmosomes, lamina lucida or lamina densa. However, in EBA and bullous systemic lupus erythematosus the u-serrated staining pattern was seen, corresponding with the ultralocalization of type VII collagen in the sublamina densa zone. The diagnosis of EBA with IgG or IgA autoantibodies directed against type VII collagen was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy, salt-split skin antigen mapping, fluorescence overlay antigen mapping or immunoblotting.ConclusionsUsing this pattern recognition by direct immunofluorescence microscopy we discovered several cases of EBA which would otherwise have been erroneously diagnosed as a form of pemphigoid or linear IgA disease.

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