Autoimmune blistering skin diseases develop separation either between epidermal keratinocytes or dermo-epidermal junction. Recent studies have revealed that the autoantigens for these diseases are components of either the desmosome, the cell adhesion junction between keratinocytes, or the hemidesmosome complex, cell adhesion machinery at the dermo-epidermal junction. Thus, the major pemphigus a...

PURPOSE To describe conjunctival histopathologic alterations induced by excessive chronic astringent use. METHODS Report of a case with clinical picture, epicutane test results, histologic workup of conjunctival biopsy using conventional staining, and immunohistochemical markers. RESULTS A 45-year-old man using a phenylephrine preparation hourly for years presented with grotesque eye rednes...

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol | November-December 2009 | Vol 75 | Issue 6 Both ELISA and WB results were consistent for different storage periods (up to 10 days), suggesting that antibodies from sera collected on filter paper can remain stable. Stability of antibodies reactive to viral antigens of diagnostic importance was further tested with two of these samples for a 15-days storage perio...

CC (6/20/96): Red, itchy eyes, whitish discharge x 6 weeks HPI: A 74 year old retired policeman noticed red, itchy eyes associated with whitish discharge that worsened over the past six weeks. Two weeks later, the patient consulted his ophthalmologist, who treated him antibiotic eye drops without a favorable response. The patient did not respond to the antibiotic and states he was biopsied. He ...

Chronic bullous disease of childhood (CBDC) is an autoimmune blistering disease that is characterized by Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits at the basement membrane zone. IgA autoantibodies (aAbs) from the serum of patients with CBDC react with antigens of 97 kDa (LABD97) and 120 kDa (LAD-1), and both of which are fragments of the extracellular domain of bullous pemphigoid 180 (BP180, type XVII co...

Parapoxvirus infection in sheep and goats is usually referred to as contagious pustular dermatitis/ecthyma, or orf, and the corresponding human infection is referred to as orf. In humans, after a brief incubation period of 3 to 5 days, lesions begin as pruritic erythematous macules and then rise to form papules, often with a target appearance. Lesions become nodular or vesicular, and orf lesion...