Prevalence of autoantibodies in patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus (fogo selvagem).
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate a broad spectrum of autoantibodies in patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus (EPF)-fogo selvagem-and to determine the possible association between EPF and other autoimmune diseases.


METHODS
Indirect immunofluorescence was used to test 120 patients with EPF and 200 healthy controls for the presence of the following autoantibodies: anti-desmoglein-1 (APF), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic (ANCA), anti-smooth muscle (SMA), anti-mitochondrial (AMA), anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-liver kidney microsomal (LKM), anti-gastric parietal cells (GPCA) and anti-thyroid microsome (TMA).


RESULTS
APF antibodies were detected in 62.5% of the patients (75/120), ANA and SMA in 0.8% (1/120), and TMA in 1.6% (2/120). None of the patients was positive for ANCA, AMA, LKM or GPCA. In the control group, a positivity of 2% was observed for SMA (4/200), 1.5% for TMA (3/200), and 0.5% (1/200) for ANA and GPCA. None of the controls was positive for APF, LKM, AMA or ANCA.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of the autoantibodies ANA, SMA, AMA, GPCA, LKM and ANCA in patients with EPF was similar to that observed in the control group. No association with clinical or laboratory manifestations of other concomitant autoimmune diseases was observed in EPF patients. These results confirm the concept that EPF is an organ-specific autoimmune disease.
Nisihara
Renato Mitsunori
RM
Laboratory of Immunopathology, Department of Medical Pathology, University Hospital, Federal University of Paraná, Center for Health Sciences, Rua General Carneiro no. 181, CEP 80060-900 Curitiba-PR, Brazil.
de Bem
Ricardo Schmitt
RS
Hausberger
Romeu
R
Roxo
Valéria Sperandio
VS
Pavoni
Daniela Parada
DP
Petzl-Erler
Maria Luiza
ML
de Messias-Reason
Iara José
IJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D051183:Desmoglein 1; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000276:immunology; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000276:immunology; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D015820:Cadherins; D051183:Desmoglein 1; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; C060729:anti-liver kidney microsome antibody; C056658:TPO protein, human; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase