Vedartham Kishore Kumar
BACKGROUND: The immunobullous dermatoses are a group of blistering disorders characterised by pathogenic auto antibodies directed against the target antigens, which are components of the desmosomes or adhesion complex at the dermoepidermal junction. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is very much valuable in the diagnosis of these lesions. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of direct immunofluorescence in the commonly seen immunobullous dermatoses. The study also aimed at correlating the direct immunofluorescence patterns with clinical and histopathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients of both sexes with suspected immunobullous disorders were selected among the patients attended over a period of one year from August, 1995 – July, 1996 in the Dermatology department of SVRR Govt. General Hospital, Tirupati, A.P. Clinical cutaneous examination along with a lesional and a perilesional skin biopsy specimens were collected from each of the 30 selected patients and were examined for histopathological study and Direct immunofluorescence study respectively at the Pathology department in the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) Tirupati, A.P. Then they were analysed by correlating the clinical, histopathological and Direct immunofluorescence findings of immunobullous disorders of skin. RESULTS: Out of 30, 23 cases showed DIF patterns concordant with clinical and histolpathological diagnosis. In the remaining 7 cases there was no correlation between the DIF, clinical and histopathological diagnosis, but the DIF proved to be highly valuable in confirming the diagnosis of the immunobullous dermatologic disorders. CONCLUSION: DIF is a very useful diagnostic tool in immunobullous skin disorders especially where there is overlap between clinical and histopathological diagnoses
