Polymorphic pemphigoid

Abstract

Patients (20) with a chronic polymorphic eruption are described. They shared clinical, histopathological and therapeutic features of both dermatitis herpetiformis and bullous pemphigoid (BP). In 14 of the 20 cases, direct and indirect immunofluorescence studies corresponded to BP. The remaining 6 patients showed Ig[immunoglobulin]A deposits in a linear pattern at the basement membrane zone; 2 of the 6 showed IgA pemphigoid antibodies in their sera also. No significant clinical and histological differences were detected in the patients in connection with the immunological findings. Furthermore, 1 patient''s condition, studied by repeated immunofluorescence examinations, changed from a linear IgA pattern and a negative indirect test to a linear IgG pattern and a positive reaction for IgG pemphigoid antibodies. These cases apparently constitute a polymorphic variant of BP.