title: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence testing in a bullous pemphigoid and pemphigoid gestationis.
abstract: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is an excellent tool for detection of circulating antibodies against the NC16A portion of BP180 antigen. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of a commercially available BP180-NC16a domain ELISA with that of an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) testing in the evaluation of bullous pemphigoid (BP) and pemphigoid gestationis (PG), and analyzed the relationship between ELISA results and the presence of IgG deposition, in an epidermal or combined pattern, on direct immunofluorescence (DIF) testing of salt-split skin. ELISA was performed on serum from 28 patients (24 BP, 4 PG) and 50 controls. IIF testing was performed on serum from 27 patients and 98 controls. For the group of 28 patients with BP or PG, ELISA had a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 96% (P < 0.001), while sensitivity was 74% and specificity 96% (P < 0.001) for IIF testing. In these patients, ELISA has a higher sensitivity than IIF testing, but similar specificity. Evaluation of controls who had IgG deposition on the dermal side of salt-split skin on DIF testing showed specificity for the ELISA of 100% (all four cases negative) and 80% for IIF testing (one of five positive). Positive ELISA correlated with a diagnosis of BP or PG only in patients who had IgG at the basement membrane zone (BMZ) by DIF testing. Overall, ELISA appears to have greater sensitivity and specificity for BP or PG than does IIF testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Sta. Creu i St. Pau, Barcelona, Spain. mbarnadas@hsp.santpau.es
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barnadas
authors.forename: M Victòria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rubiales
authors.forename: M José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Eulàlia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baselga
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alomar
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gelpí
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024041:Non-Fibrillar Collagens / Q000276:immunology; D006559:Pemphigoid Gestationis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult; D000097805:Collagen Type XVII
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D024041:Non-Fibrillar Collagens; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097805:Collagen Type XVII; C105304:DLX4 protein, human