Correlation of IgE autoantibody to BP180 with a severe form of bullous pemphigoid.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the prevalence, immunoglobulin subclass distribution, and clinical correlation of antibodies (Abs), especially of IgE Abs, to BP180 and BP230 in patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP).

DESIGN:

Retrospective case series analysis.

SETTING:

Department of Dermatology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Science.

PATIENTS:

Serum samples from 37 patients with BP, 6 with pemphigus vulgaris, 5 with pemphigus foliaceus, and 26 healthy controls (n = 26) were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Prevalence, immunoglobulin subclass distribution, and clinical correlation of Abs, especially of IgE Abs, to BP180 and BP230.

RESULTS:

IgG anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 Abs were detected in 35 (95%) and 26 (70%) of the 37 BP serum samples, respectively. IgG1 and IgG4 isotypes were positive in 32 (87%) and 25 (68%), respectively, of the BP serum samples for anti-BP180 Abs, while they were detected in 16 (44%) and 26 (70%), respectively, for anti-BP230 Abs. IgE anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 Abs were equally detected in 8 (22%) of the BP serum samples. Similar to IgG anti-BP180 Abs, the presence or levels of IgE anti-BP180 Abs was associated with broader skin lesions. Furthermore, patients with BP positive for IgE anti-BP180 Abs required longer duration for remission, higher dosage of prednisolone, and more intensive therapies for remission. By contrast, this was not true for those with of IgE anti-BP230 Abs. Remarkably, when analyzed in patients with BP who had a high titer of IgG anti-BP180 Abs, the presence or levels of IgE anti-BP180 Abs, but not IgG anti-BP180 Abs, were associated with a more severe form.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present study suggests that IgE anti-BP180 Abs are related to the disease severity and activity of BP. Moreover, it may be possible to identify treatment-refractory patients with BP more specifically by assessing the presence or levels of IgE anti-BP180 Abs in those with a high IgG anti-BP180 Ab titer.

• Authors: Yohei Iwata, Kazuhiro Komura, Masanari Kodera, Toshikazu Usuda, Yoko Yokoyama, Toshihide Hara, Eiji Muroi, Fumihide Ogawa, Motoi Takenaka, Shinichi Sato
• Journal: Archives of dermatology (Arch Dermatol) Vol. 144 Issue 1 Pg. 41-8 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 1538-3652 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18209167 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Autoantigens
• Biomarkers
• Non-Fibrillar Collagens
• Immunoglobulin E
• Prednisone

Topics

• Aged
• Autoantibodies (blood)
• Autoantigens (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Japan
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Non-Fibrillar Collagens (blood)
• Pemphigoid, Bullous (blood, diagnosis, drug therapy, immunology)
• Prednisone (therapeutic use)
• Probability
• Reference Values
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Assessment
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Severity of Illness Index
• Statistics, Nonparametric
• Collagen Type XVII