Correlation of antibodies against desmogleins 1 and 3 with indirect immunofluorescence and disease status in a Greek population with pemphigus vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
The use of ELISA testing of antibodies to desmogleins 1 and 3 (anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) has been strongly supported for the serologic diagnosis of pemphigus. The purpose of this study was to correlate anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 with IIF values, disease localization, treatment and clinical course in Greek patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV).


METHODS
A total of 54 patients with PV had ELISA serum testing for the presence and titers of anti-Dsg1, anti-Dsg3 and IIF. Anti-Dsg1, anti-Dsg3 and IIF were correlated with treatment and disease localization. For 40 patients, titers of anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 were assessed in relation to treatment and clinical course after 12 months.


RESULTS
Anti-Dsg3 and anti-Dsg1 positivity in patients with negative IIF was 70.6% and 58.8%, respectively. Anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 were positive in 89.3% and 100% of patients with mucocutaneous disease, respectively, 88.9% and 66.7% of patients with skin limited disease, respectively and 52.9% and 76.5% of patients with mucosal limited disease, respectively. Both antibody titers showed significant correlation with IIF and treatment status. Improvement of clinical status was associated with significant decrease of both anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 after 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum testing of anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 in PV patients not only provides significant correlations with IIF, treatment and disease type, but may serve as a monitoring tool for clinical course and treatment guidance.
First Department for Skin and Venereal Diseases, National and Capodistrian University of Athens - Medical School, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece.
G
G
Avgerinou
D-K
DK
Papafragkaki
A
A
Nasiopoulou
V
V
Markantoni
A
A
Arapaki
M
M
Servitzoglou
A
A
Katsambas
P G
PG
Stavropoulos
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D051183:Desmoglein 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods*; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001323:Autoantibodies; C495297:DSG1 protein, human; C071894:DSG3 protein, human; D051183:Desmoglein 1; D051184:Desmoglein 3