Korean J Dermatol.
2024 Jul;62(6):336-342.
Analysis of Diagnostic Techniques Used in Patients with Pemphigus over the Past 20 Years at a Single Institution
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Kwangju, Korea
Abstract
- Background
Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies against desmosomal proteins. Owing to its high mortality rate, prompt and accurate diagnosis of pemphigus is crucial.
Objective
To determine the positivity rates of immunoblotting in patients diagnosed with pemphigus using clinical, histopathological, direct immunofluorescence (DIF), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Methods
We retrospectively evaluated 84 patients diagnosed with pemphigus between 2001 and 2021 at the Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju, Korea.
Results
Among the 55 patients with pemphigus vulgaris included in the immunoblotting study, 46 (83.6%) exhibited positive findings for the 130 kDa band. Of the 29 patients with pemphigus foliaceus, 17 (58.6%) showed positive findings for the 160 kDa band. In cases where autoantibodies were difficult to detect with negative DIF and ELISA results, immunoblotting aided in the diagnosis of 18.2% of pemphigus vulgaris cases and 6.9% of pemphigus foliaceus cases.
Conclusion
Immunoblotting can serve as an alternative diagnostic method for patients with mild-to-moderate disease or those who have undergone treatment, especially when DIF or ELISA tests yield negative or atypical results.
