Chinese Journal of Dermatology ›› 2024, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (10): 904-909.doi: 10.35541/cjd.20230744

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Clinical and immunoserological features of 20 cases of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita

Wang Yuan1, Li Suo1, Li Zhiliang2, Jing Ke2, Sun Chao1, Liang Guirong1, Zhang Hanmei1, Feng Suying1   

  1. 1Department of Venereology, Hospital of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China; 2Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China Wang Yuan is now working at Department of Dermatology and Venereology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650101, China
  • Received:2023-12-14 Revised:2024-06-02 Online:2024-10-15 Published:2024-09-29
  • Contact: Feng Suying E-mail:fengsy@pumcderm.cams.cn
  • Supported by:
    Scientific Research Project of Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission (ZD2021035); Clinical and Translational Medicine Research Project of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2023-I2M-C&T-B-112)

Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To analyze clinical and immunoserological features of patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). Methods Clinical data were collected from patients with confirmed EBA at the Hospital of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2017 to January 2022, and their clinical and immunoserological characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 20 patients were collected, including 7 males and 13 females, and they were aged 41.85 ± 18.43 years. Ten patients presented with the classical phenotype of EBA, 8 with the inflammatory phenotype of EBA, and 2 with the mixed phenotype of EBA. Mucosal involvement occurred in 19 cases, nail involvement occurred in 4, scarring was observed in 9, and milia in 13. Indirect immunofluorescence on salt-split skin showed IgG deposition on the dermal side in 19 cases. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for type Ⅶ collagen revealed positive results in 19 cases, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 95%. Western blot analysis with dermal extracts as substrates revealed a protein band with a relative molecular mass of 290 000 in 16 cases, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 80%, and multiple autoantibodies against different basement membrane zone antigens were identified in 3 cases. Fifteen patients received systemic glucocorticoids, including 2 receiving combined immunosuppressive agents and 13 receiving combined anti-inflammatory agents with dapsone and colchicine as the first and second commonly used anti-inflammatory agents respectively; among 5 patients receiving non‐glucocorticoid therapy, 2 with inflammatory EBA were sensitive to dapsone and colchicine, while the other 3 patients were lost to follow-up. Totally, 17 patients were followed up for an average duration of 26.21 months. Among the 17 patients, 1 achieved complete remission off therapy, 2 achieved complete remission on minimal therapy, and the remaining 14 patients achieved partial remission. Conclusions The treatment of EBA is challenging, and anti-inflammatory agents such as dapsone and colchicine are often used. Immunoserological tests are of great value in the diagnosis of EBA.

Key words: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, Skin manifestations, Salt-split skin, Indirect immunofluorescence, Immunoblotting, Therapy