IgE in the serum and on mast cells in bullous pemphigoid

Abstract

In 25 patients with bullous pemphigoid the presence of Ig[immunoglobulin]E on the epidermal basement membrane (BM) and the cell membrane of mast cells was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. In 4 cases, linear staining of the BM was found. Strongly positive fluorescence of the mast cells was found in 7 cases; in 7 others there was weakly positive staining. The positive staining of mast cells seemed to be related to the serum IgE level. The IgE levels in serum samples of 30 patients were determined by the immunoradiometric assay. In 11 cases elevated levels (> 400 IU/ml) were found. Circulating IgE anti-BM antibodies could be demonstrated in 1 of 15 serum samples by indirect immunofluorescence. IgE-mediated mechanisms do not seem to play an important role in pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid.