title: Serum and salivary desmoglein 1 and 3 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in pemphigus vulgaris: correlation with phenotype and severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To the best of our knowledge there is only one report about salivary desmoglein (Dsg) 1 and 3 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in pemphigus vulgaris (PV), whereas several studies have been performed on serum.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To find the sensitivity of serum and salivary anti-Dsg1 and 3 antibodies in the diagnosis of PV, and to determine the relationship between disease severity and phenotype with antibody levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty new patients with PV were included in this study. The diagnosis of PV was confirmed by histopathology and direct immunofluorescence. Demographical data, disease severity and phenotypes were recorded on questionnaire sheets. Dsg1 and Dsg3 ELISA were performed on serum and salivary samples of patients and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven patients had mucocutaneous phenotype; whereas mucosal dominant and cutaneous dominant phenotypes were seen in 11 and 2 patients respectively. The sensitivities of serum anti-Dsg3 and anti-Dsg1 were 94% and 72% respectively. The sensitivities of salivary anti-Dsg3 and anti-Dsg1 antibodies were accordingly 94% and 70%. Compared with mucosal phenotype, serum and salivary anti-Dsg1 antibodies were significantly higher in the patients with mucocutaneous phenotype. Serum Dsg1 antibodies were related with cutaneous and serum Dsg3 antibodies with mucosal severity scores. Salivary Dsg1 antibodies were significantly correlated with mucosal severity (P=0.00); however there was no correlation between this antibody and cutaneous severity (P=0.07). Salivary Dsg3 antibodies were not correlated with mucosal severity (P=0.16).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saliva Dsg ELISA could be used for diagnosis of PV. Salivary Dsg1 antibodies had a significant correlation with mucosal severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Razi Hospital, and Department of Immunology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hallaji
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mortazavi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lajevardi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tamizifar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: AmirZargar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daneshpazhooh
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chams-Davatchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D051183:Desmoglein 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D051183:Desmoglein 1; D051184:Desmoglein 3