title: The significance of an IgM band at the dermo-epidermal junction.
abstract: We studied 190 patients with an IgM band at the dermo-epidermal junction demonstrated by direct immunofluorescence. In 55% of patients the final diagnosis was lupus erythematosus, 49% discoid lupus erythematosus, and 6% systemic lupus erythematosus. In 45% of patients the presence of an IgM band was associated with a number of other diagnoses. The finding of an IgM band at the dermo-epidermal junction in a cutaneous biopsy is not sufficient evidence to make a diagnosis of lupus erythematosus without supporting clinical, histological and serological evidence.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D004817:Epidermis / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M