Epidermal autoantibodies in erythema multiforme.
We report a case of refractory erythema multiforme associated with atypical epidermal autoantibodies. The patient was a 63-year-old woman with clinical and histologic features of erythema multiforme and a large mediastinal T cell lymphoma. Immunofluorescence studies disclosed high serum titers of cell surface antibodies against epidermal keratinocytes in a pattern typical of pemphigus vulgaris. The epidermal antigen reacting with these circulating antibodies was characterized by incubating 14C-labeled keratinocytes with serum. The patient's serum pattern precipitated multiple proteins keratinocytes antigens), but not the 130,000- and 85,000-dalton polypeptides characteristic of pemphigus vulgaris. Thus autoantibodies reacting selectively with non-pemphigus vulgaris epidermal keratinocyte antigens may be the cause of a false-positive immunofluorescence test for pemphigus vulgaris.
Matsuoka
L Y
LY
Department of Dermatology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Wortsman
J
J
Stanley
J R
JR
D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications
D001323:Autoantibodies