[Cicatricial pemphigoid with autoantibodies to laminin 5 (epiligrin) in a patient with metastatic endometrial carcinoma]

Hautarzt. 1998 Jan;49(1):31-5. doi: 10.1007/s001050050697.
[Article in German]

Abstract

A 71-year-old female patient presented with erosions of the oral, genital and ocular mucosa, but without skin lesions. One year prior to the onset of lesions, a metastatic adenocarcinoma of the endometrium had been diagnosed. In perilesional skin, direct immunofluorescence showed linear deposits of C3 and IgG along the basement membrane zone. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated anti-basement membrane zone antibodies which bound exclusively to the dermal side of 1M NaCl-split skin. In immunoprecipitation studies, the autoantibodies bound a set of proteins characteristic of epiligrin/laminin-5, and they specifically immunoblotted the alpha-subunit of this protein. These results confirmed our presumed diagnosis of anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid. Combined treatment with methylprednisolone and dapsone resulted in prompt remission, despite progression of her malignancy. So far, only eight patients with anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid have been reported worldwide. Our patient represents the first case from Austria and is clinically and immunopathologically similar to previously reported cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / immunology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Basement Membrane / immunology
  • Basement Membrane / pathology
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / immunology*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Kalinin
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / immunology*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / pathology
  • Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / diagnosis
  • Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / immunology*
  • Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / pathology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules