Application of C4d Immunohistochemistry on Routinely Processed Tissue Sections for the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Bullous Dermatoses

The American Journal of Dermatopathology
Axel P VillaniJ Kanitakis

Abstract

The diagnosis of autoimmune bullous dermatoses relies greatly on direct immunofluorescence (DIF) examination performed on frozen tissue sections, showing deposits of immunoglobulins and/or C3 on specific cutaneous structures. However, frozen material is not always available for DIF; therefore, alternative techniques are needed in the diagnostic procedure. We therefore tested the usefulness of C4d immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections for the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid (BP) and pemphigus (P). A retrospective immunohistochemical study was performed on biopsies of BP (n: 29) and P (n: 22, including 19 Pemphigus vulgaris and 3 paraneoplastic), submitted for routine histological examination and compared with DIF on the corresponding frozen sections. Twenty-five BP biopsies (86.2%) showed C4d deposits seen as a linear labeling along the dermal-epidermal junction and on the membrane of basal keratinocytes. Seventeen P biopsies (77.2%) showed C4d deposits in a classical "intercellular" pattern, predominating on the lower epidermal layers. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value reached 86%, 98%, 96%, and 92% in BP, respectively and 77%, 98%, 94%, an...Continue Reading

References

Dec 1, 1995·The American Journal of Dermatopathology·K D'Ambra-CabryJ S Deng
Feb 1, 1997·The American Journal of Dermatopathology·I Al-RifaiA Claudy

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 5, 2018·Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG·Nina van BeekEnno Schmidt
Sep 5, 2018·Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG·Nina van BeekEnno Schmidt
Dec 27, 2018·The British Journal of Dermatology·S SunX Zeng
May 2, 2018·Frontiers in Immunology·Jenny GiangJeffrey Damman
May 13, 2018·Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine : Official Publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology·Iakov ShimanovichChristian Rose
Jul 12, 2019·Frontiers in Immunology·Gareth EdwardsJeffrey Damman
Jan 5, 2021·The American Journal of Dermatopathology·Jeffrey DammanGilles F H Diercks

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases occur as a result of an attack by the immune system on the body’s own tissues resulting in damage and dysfunction. There are different types of autoimmune diseases, in which there is a complex and unknown interaction between genetics and the environment. Discover the latest research on autoimmune diseases here.