title: Direct immunofluorescence on hair follicles--present and future perspectives.
abstract: Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is an important tool for evaluating bullous autoimmune and connective tissue disorders. We report 21 cases of pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid and lupus erythematosus that were investigated by performing DIF on scalp hair follicles. The study was done using a simplified technique of preparing the hairs for DIF testing. The anagen hairs tested positive in pemphigus vulgaris patients while the telogen hairs were negative. In bullous pemphigoid and lupus erythematosus cases hair DIF presented negative results.Hair DIF has the potential of taking the place of skin or mucosal DIF in pemphigus patients if performed on anagen hair follicles. The technique used to perform hair DIF is important in obtaining reliable results and eliminating the possibility of generating false-negative testing. Larger studies are needed in order to validate this method.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Dermatology Clinic, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. dr_adinaalexandru_ro@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Adina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alexandru
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zurac
authors.forename: Carmen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Salavastru
authors.forename: Razvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrei
authors.forename: Tiberiu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tebeica
authors.forename: Florica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Staniceanu
authors.forename: George S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Tiplica
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012535:Scalp / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003176:Complement C3