Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
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J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. · May 1989
ReviewClinical correlations of linear IgA deposition at the cutaneous basement membrane zone.
To determine the specificity of linear IgA deposition at the cutaneous basement membrane zone for primary bullous disease, we reviewed the results of all direct immunofluorescence studies of skin biopsy specimens taken from patients seen at Mayo Clinic during the period 1982 through 1986. Of 4642 specimens submitted for direct immunofluorescence during this 5-year period, 44 from 42 patients showed linear IgA deposition at the basement membrane zone, with or without other immunoglobulins. Of these 42 patients, 36 (86%) had primary subepidermal bullous disease. ⋯ Sixteen had linear IgA and IgG at the basement membrane zone (10 with clinical cicatricial pemphigoid, 5 with bullous pemphigoid, and 1 with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita). There was a high frequency of mucosal involvement (67% of the 36 patients) and a somewhat higher frequency of ocular involvement in patients with cicatricial pemphigoid who had linear IgA without IgG at the basement membrane zone (6 of 8) than in those who had both immunoglobulins at the basement membrane zone (4 of 10). These results show that the direct immunofluorescence finding of linear IgA deposition at the basement membrane zone correlates with primary subepidermal bullous disease in a high percentage of patients but reflects a heterogeneous group of blistering disorders.
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J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. · Feb 1989
Review Case ReportsImpetigo herpetiformis: a variant of pustular psoriasis or a separate entity?
Impetigo herpetiformis is a rare pustular disorder that primarily affects pregnant women. Clinically and histologically it bears some resemblance to pustular psoriasis. This similarity has led authors to name the disease "the pustular psoriasis of pregnancy." A case is described that demonstrates the characteristic features of impetigo herpetiformis, as compared with pustular psoriasis, and emphasizes the need to preserve it as a separate entity.
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Once encountered, generalized melanosis as a consequence of disseminated melanoma is not easily forgotten. Cases in the literature usually have resulted from primary cutaneous melanoma. A case of generalized melanosis caused by an occult primary melanoma is reported in a patient who originally complained of increased pigmentation. Findings of light microscopic studies of involved skin, pathogenesis of generalized melanosis, and possible sites of origin of the primary neoplasm are discussed.
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J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. · Jan 1989
Case ReportsHuman immunodeficiency virus infection and porphyria cutanea tarda.
A recent report documents three homosexual men with porphyria cutanea tarda associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). We report two brothers with hemophilia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exposure who developed porphyria cutanea tarda. These brothers are heterosexual, have familial porphyria cutanea tarda, and developed overt familial porphyria cutanea tarda in their early twenties. ⋯ It now may be advisable to order HIV serology tests in patients who have porphyria cutanea tarda. We recommend that HIV-positive individuals avoid ultraviolet A radiation because of its immunosuppressive effects in persons already at risk of immunosuppression. Such exposure is further contraindicated in those individuals with porphyria cutanea tarda.