Abstract: Objective To evaluate the significance of serum anti-desmoglein (anti-Dsg) autoantibodies in the sero-diagnosis of pemphigus. Methods Serum anti-desmoglein autoantibody levels were measured by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescent assay (IIF) in 49 patients with pemphigus, and in 36 non-pemphigus controls. Results Dsg1 antibody was positive by ELISA in 27 of 33 patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV), 14 of 16 pemphigus foliaceus (PF) and 6 of 36 controls, and Dsg3 antibody was positive by ELISA in 27 of 33 PV, 1 of 16 PF and 1 of 36 controls. The sensitivity and specificity of Dsg1 ELISA were 81.25% and 88.89%, while those of Dsg3 ELISA were 81.82% and 97.22%, respectively. There was a significant difference of positivity rates between ELISA and IIF (χ²=4.31, P<0.05). Conclusions Detection of serum anti-desmoglein autoantibodies by ELISA provides a simple, sensitive and specific assay for the sero-diagnosis of pemphigus, which might be useful for differentiation of PV and PF.

Key words: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Pemphigus, Fluorescent antibody technique, indirect