Dermatitis herpetiformis evolving into bullous pemphigoid: a probable example of 'epitope spreading'.
We report a case of dermatitis herpetiformis which, 11 years after its original diagnosis, evolved into bullous pemphigoid. Only a few similar cases supported by immunofluorescence studies have been reported previously, and we believe that they represent examples of 'epitope spreading', an increasingly recognized phenomenon used to explain the coexistence of autoimmune diseases.
Ameen
M
M
St. John's Institute of Dermatology, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
Bhogal
B S
BS
Black
M M
MM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003874:Dermatitis Herpetiformis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000939:Epitopes; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone