Localized chronic pemphigoid of Brunsting-Perry. Ultrastructural localization of IgG and complement components

Abstract

Immune electron microscopic data are presented of a typical case of localized chronic pemphigoid (LCP) of Brunsting-Perry. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase multistep method for the electron microscopic localization of immunoglobulins and complement components showed that IgG, C3, and C4 were distributed in the lamina lucida and on the undersurface of the basal keratinocytes. These findings support the concept that LCP, bullous pemphigoid, and benign mucosal pemphigoid are closely related diseases. Unlike in bullous pemphigoid, however, complement was occasionally found in this case of LCP beyond the basal lamina in the uppermost portion of the dermis. This finding may explain the occurrence of scar formation in LCP.