title: Rapid prenatal diagnosis and exclusion of epidermolysis bullosa using novel antibody probes.
abstract: Prenatal diagnosis of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa was successfully achieved at 19 weeks' gestation by indirect immunofluorescence examination of a fetal skin biopsy sample using the monoclonal antibody LH 7:2. The abortus displayed marked blistering and the diagnosis was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In 3 further pregnancies at risk for lethal junctional epidermolysis bullosa the diagnosis was excluded using the polyclonal antibody AA3. In all these studies the results were available within 4 h of receiving the samples. These new techniques offer a quick and simple alternative to TEM for midtrimester prenatal diagnosis of 2 severe recessive forms of epidermolysis bullosa.
mesh_terms: D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004817:Epidermis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004820:Epidermolysis Bullosa / Q000473:pathology*; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal