title: How to take skin biopsies for epidermolysis bullosa.
abstract: The definitive diagnosis of inherited epidermolysis bullosa is best made with positive immunofluorescence antigenic mapping, transmission electron microscopy, and epidermolysis bullosa-related monoclonal antibody studies. However, immunofluorescence microscopy is faster and easier as compared with electron microscopy for subtyping epidermolysis bullosa. The severity of the disease varies with the structural protein involved. A proper diagnosis should be made as soon as possible, and skin biopsies help with diagnosis. This article describes the technique of skin biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St George Hospital, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Lizbeth Ruth A
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Intong
authors.forename: Dédée F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Murrell
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D004820:Epidermolysis Bullosa / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*