Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita (Brunsting-Perry Pemphigoid Variant) Localized to the Face and Diagnosed With Antigen Identification Using Skin Deficient in Type VII Collagen

Am J Dermatopathol. 2017 Jul;39(7):e90-e96. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000000829.

Abstract

Brunsting-Perry pemphigoid is defined as an autoimmune vesiculobullous eruption typically localized on the head and neck region with minimal or no mucosal involvement. The disease tends to run a chronic and recurrent course with residual scarring. Histological features are characterized by subepidermal bullae and linear IgG deposits at the dermo-epidermal junction. We report a case of a 46-year-old lady who presented with typical features of Brunsting-Perry pemphigoid. Autoantibodies to type VII collagen were identified by using recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa skin which lacks type VII collagen in an indirect immunofluorescence assay. As a result, we diagnosed our patient as having the Brunsting-Perry pemphigoid variant of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). This finding led us to review the literature on target antigens in Brunsting-Perry pemphigoid. Only 11 out of the 58 cases reported to date had target antigens identified. Interestingly, type VII collagen was the second most common target antigen/autoantibody (4 cases) detected after BP180 (5 cases). However, 2 further cases of EBA localized to the face with typical features of Brunsting-Perry pemphigoid were found in the literature. Although the target antigens are heterogeneous in Brunsting-Perry pemphigoid, a significant number of cases represent a clinical presentation of localized EBA.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Collagen Type VII / deficiency*
  • Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / diagnosis*
  • Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita / immunology
  • Face / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Skin / pathology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • Collagen Type VII