Localized bullous pemphigoid, a T cell-mediated disease? Electron microscopic and immunologic studies

Abstract

Two new cases of the rare, nonmucosal and nonscarring localized variety of pemphigoid are described. With reference to the data in the recent literature, the disease was classified as Localized Bullous Pemphigoid (LBP). The ultrastructural and immunologic findings are described and are briefly discussed in the context of the possible mechanisms leading to local subepidermal tissue injury in LBP. Although classical features of humoral responsiveness (in vivo bound IgG and complement at the epidermal basal membrane-zone (BM-zone)) were observed, a possible additional role of T cell mediated immunity in generating this local disease is considered.