Bullous Pemphigoid Associated With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Three cases of bullous pemphigoid associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are presented. Indirect immunofluorescent (IF) studies performed on sera from two of the patients revealed basement membrane zone antibodies characteristic of bullous pemphigoid and nuclear antibodies characteristic of SLE. Direct IF studies revealed in vivo bound γ-globulin localized to the basement membrane zone in skin biopsy specimens from two of these patients. Pathologic observations of a third patient with bullous pemphigoid who died of SLE are also presented. This association with SLE adds further support to a possible auto-immune disturbance being operative in bullous pemphigold.