Punctate Pattern and Pemphigus: Is There Any Evidence of Punctate Pattern Among Iranian Patients? Publisher Pubmed



Esmaili N^{1, 2} ; Kamyab K^{1, 2} ; Hatami P^{1, 2} ; Behrouzifar S^{1, 2} ; Daneshpazhooh M^{1, 2} ; Tavakkolpour S¹ ; Goodarzi A³ ; Mortazavi H^{1, 2} ; Aryanian Z^{1, 4} Show Affiliations
Source: American Journal of Dermatopathology Published:2022

Abstract

Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disease. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) of the perilesional skin is one of the most effective techniques and probably the gold standard in the diagnosis of pemphigus. A specific punctate immunofluorescence pattern has been recently reported. Aim: To examine the prevalence of this novel pattern among Iranian patients with pemphigus and peruse the relationship between the presence of a punctate pattern with clinical severity of disease and histopathological findings. Methods: One hundred recently diagnosed patients with pemphigus were enrolled. DIF evaluation and routine light microscopy were performed on their biopsy specimens. Disease severity was determined using the Pemphigus Disease Area Index. Serum samples were collected to measure autoantibody titers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: All the samples evaluated by DIF showed a continuous linear pattern of intercellular IgG deposition, whereas none of them had a punctate pattern. Despite a significant correlation between the Pemphigus Disease Area Index score and autoantibody values, no association between histopathological findings and disease severity has been found. Conclusion: We could not detect any punctate pattern among Iranian patients with pemphigus. The importance of this pattern in the diagnosis of pemphigus might be different among patients with different ethnic and genetic factors. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.