title: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.
abstract: A 29-year-old woman presented with 8 months of multiple vesicles, erosions, and milia on the dorsa of her hands and feet. Histopathologic examination demonstrated a subepidermal blister, with a paucity of eosinophils and a lack of blood vessel wall thickening or caterpillar bodies. A direct immunofluorescence test showed a linear deposit of IgG at the dermo-epidermal junction. These findings were consistent with a diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. This case is a classic example of this rare blistering disease, in which patients produce autoantibodies to collagen VII, which is the major component of the anchoring fibrils.
authors.affiliation: New York University Department of Dermatology, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Radha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mikkilineni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016107:Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005528:Foot; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D003622:Dapsone