title: Anti-HLA antibodies in pemphigoid gestationis (herpes gestationis).
abstract: Pemphigoid gestationis (PG; herpes gestationis) is a rare autoimmune disease associated with pregnancy, currently defined by the presence of complement deposition along the cutaneous basement membrane zone. It is known to be associated with HLA-DR3 and DR4, and an increase in anti-HLA antibodies in those with a history of PG has been reported. We have studied 39 patients with an immunofluorescence-confirmed diagnosis of PG for the presence and specificity of anti-HLA antibodies. Anti-HLA antibodies were found in all 39 patients. Specificity was against class I antigens in 98% (controls 10%; P < 0.001) and class II antigens in 25% (controls 8.5%; P < 0.001). Almost all anti-HLA antibodies were cytotoxic. The universal presence of anti-HLA antibodies in PG suggests that they may develop coincidently with antibasement membrane antibodies, and may reflect a common immunological event.
authors.affiliation: St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Shornick
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Garvey
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006559:Pemphigoid Gestationis / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II