Acquired epidermolysis bullosa in a pediatric patient.

BACKGROUND: Acquired epidermolysis bullosa is a rare and chronic autoimmune subepidermal bullous disease characterized by the formation of autoantibodies against type VII collagen. Presentation in childhood is rare and with several manifestations. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 12-year-old female patient who presented bullous and polymorphic lesions on the chest and extremities of several months of evolution. Due to the characteristics of the skin lesions, a histopathological and direct immunofluorescence study was conducted, confirming the diagnosis of acquired epidermolysis bullosa. Subsequently, corticosteroid and dapsone treatment was administered, with favorable clinical response during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Acquired epidermolysis bullosa is unusual in pediatric age, so it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of other congenital and acquired bullous diseases of childhood. The definitive diagnosis is performed through an immunofluorescence, study, which allows for rapid and effective treatment to control the disease and avoid permanent sequelae.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La epidermólisis bullosa adquirida es una enfermedad ampollar subepidérmica autoinmune, rara y crónica caracterizada por la formación de autoanticuerpos contra colágeno tipo VII. La presentación en la infancia es poco frecuente y con manifestaciones variables. CASO CLÍNICO: Se describe el caso de una paciente de sexo femenino de 12 años de edad que presentó lesiones ampollares y polimórficas en tórax y extremidades de varios meses de evolución. Por las características de las lesiones cutáneas, se realizó un estudio histopatológico y de inmunofluorescencia directa que confirmó el diagnóstico de epidermólisis bullosa adquirida, por lo que se administró tratamiento con corticoide y dapsona, con una respuesta clínica favorable durante el seguimiento. CONCLUSIONES: La epidermólisis bullosa adquirida es inusual en la edad pediátrica. Por tanto, debe considerarse en el diagnóstico diferencial de otras enfermedades ampollares congénitas y adquiridas de la infancia. El diagnóstico definitivo se realiza a través del estudio de inmunofluorescencia, lo que permite instaurar rápidamente un tratamiento rápido y eficaz para controlar la enfermedad y evitar secuelas permanentes.

Necrotizing fasciitis - a complication of autoimmune skin blistering diseases?

INTRODUCTION: Autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBD) are organ-specific skin blistering diseases clinically manifesting as bullae and vesicles of the skin and mucous membranes. The loss of skin barrier integrity renders patients susceptible to infection. Necrotizing fasciitis (NF), a rare yet severe infectious complication of AIBD has been insufficiently documented in the literature. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 51-year-old male patient with NF initially misdiagnosed as herpes zoster. Given the local status, CT imaging, and laboratory parameters, NF diagnosis was made and the patient was taken for an urgent surgical debridement. In a further development, new bullae in remote areas erupted and a perilesional biopsy, direct immunofluorescence as well as local status, the patient's age, and atypical presentation, imposed an initial diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. Differential diagnoses were bullous pemphigoid (BP) and bullous systemic lupus. In the literature, 9 other described cases were found and are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Due to its unspecific clinical picture, necrotizing fasciitis itself presents a frequently misdiagnosed soft tissue infection. Altered laboratory parameters in immunosuppressed patients often lead to misdiagnosing of NF and loss of precious time, which plays a major role in survival. Given the manifestation of AIBD as loss of skin integrity and immunosuppressive therapy, these patients could be more predisposed to NF than the general population.

Vesiculobullous Lesions of the Oral Cavity.

Several dermatological conditions may manifest in the oral cavity, particularly those that are immune-mediated, and they must be distinguished from the various other types of oral ulcerations. This chapter discusses the clinical features, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and diagnostic features, including histology and immunofluorescence findings, as well as management of vesiculobullous diseases. These diseases include pemphigus Vulgaris, benign mucous membrane pemphigoid, bullous pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. These diseases have a significant impact on the quality of life, as they can lead to serious complications, depending on the extent of the disease. Therefore, early recognition is crucial, helping to reduce disease-related morbidity, mortality and prevent life-threatening complications.

Brunsting-Perry pemphigoid: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Brunsting-Perry pemphigoid (BPP) is a rare, autoimmune bullous skin disorder classified within the spectrum of mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An a priori protocol was designed based on PRISMA guidelines. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for English-language articles concerning BPP published between 1950 and July 2021. RESULTS: Thirty-six articles including 63 BPP patients were analyzed. The mean age at diagnosis was 62.9 years (range: 27-86). BPP was shown to be characterized by vesiculobullous lesions (46/63, 73.0%) on an erythematous base, erosions or ulcerations (27/63, 42.9%), atrophic scars (49/63, 77.8%), and milia (4/63, 6.3%). Exclusive oral mucosal involvement was documented in 22.2% of cases, usually manifesting after the cutaneous onset of the disease. Subepidermal blistering was a constant finding, often with an eosinophil-rich inflammatory infiltrate (21/58, 36.2%). Positive direct immunofluorescence was found in 92.0% of patients, almost always with linear IgG ± C3 deposits along the basement membrane (43/46, 93.5%). BP180 (12/15, 80.0%), BP230 (5/15, 33.3%), and laminin 332 (3/15, 20.0%) were the most frequently identified target antigens. CONCLUSIONS: BPP nosologic position remains uncertain, given the overlap with other autoimmune bullous diseases, such as MMP, bullous pemphigoid, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, particularly in its BPP-like variant. Nonpredominant oral mucosal lesions may appear during the course of the disease, generally after cutaneous manifestations. Positivity of DIF and anti-BP180/230 autoantibodies detected on ELISA/immunoblotting in the absence of anticollagen VII antibodies may provide guidance in diagnosing BPP.

Use of Convolutional Neural Networks for the Detection of u-Serrated Patterns in Direct Immunofluorescence Images to Facilitate the Diagnosis of Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita.

The u-serrated immunodeposition pattern in direct immunofluorescence (DIF) microscopy is a recognizable feature and confirmative for the diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). Due to unfamiliarity with serrated patterns, serration pattern recognition is still of limited use in routine DIF microscopy. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for the recognition of u-serrated patterns that can assist in the diagnosis of EBA. The nine most commonly used CNNs were trained and validated by using 220,800 manually delineated DIF image patches from 106 images of 46 different patients. The data set was split into 10 subsets: nine training subsets from 42 patients to train CNNs and the last subset from the remaining four patients for a validation data set of diagnostic accuracy. This process was repeated 10 times with a different subset used for validation. The best-performing CNN achieved a specificity of 89.3% and a corresponding sensitivity of 89.3% in the classification of u-serrated DIF image patches, an expert level of diagnostic accuracy. Experiments and results show the effectiveness of CNN approaches for u-serrated pattern recognition with a high accuracy. The proposed approach can assist clinicians and pathologists in recognition of u-serrated patterns in DIF images and facilitate the diagnosis of EBA.

12/15-Lipoxygenase choreographs the resolution of IgG-mediated skin inflammation.

Autoimmune diseases are defined by an immune response against a specific autoantigen, driven by antigen-specific T cells or antibodies. While the mechanisms resolving brief episodes of acute inflammation elicited by microbial components or tissue injury are well understood, the mechanisms resolving tissue inflammation in autoimmune diseases are still largely elusive. We have, therefore, addressed the mechanisms of resolution in IgG-mediated autoimmune diseases using a mouse model of the pemphigoid disease "bullous pemphigoid-like epidermolysis bullosa acquisita" (BP-like EBA) as prototypical example. We found that 12/15-LO is induced in skin lesions of BP-like EBA and is predominantly expressed in eosinophils. Dependent on the expression of 12/15-LO, large amounts of proresolving lipid mediators, are biosynthesized in the skin by the point disease peaks. Their production is timely correlated to the gradual reversal of tissue inflammation. Genetic deficiency in Alox15, the gene encoding 12/15-LO, disrupts this process significantly protracting and aggravating disease. This protraction is associated reduced recruitment of regulatory T cells (Tregs) into lesional skin. Intriguingly, Alox15-/- mice also exhibit reduced recruitment of eosinophils into the skin, and the chemotaxis of cultured Alox15-/- eosinophils towards CCL11/eotaxin-1 is compromised. Finally, we demonstrate that 15-lipoxygenase-1, the human homologue of 12/15-LO is induced in granulocytes in lesional skin of patients suffering from a pemphigoid disease. Collectively, our result uncover key mechanisms resolving IgG-mediated skin inflammation. These mechanisms are orchestrated by 12/15-LO expressed in eosinophils promoting the recruitment of eosinophils and Tregs, which in turn inhibit neutrophils.

Propranolol Is an Effective Topical and Systemic Treatment Option for Experimental Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita.

Propranolol is an ADRB2 blocker that regulates heart muscle contractions, smooth muscle relaxation, and glycogenolysis. In addition, an increasing number of applications in dermatology have been described, most prominently, the use as a first-line treatment for infantile hemangiomas. We here show that propranolol enhances IL-8-induced neutrophil chemotaxis and reduces the release of ROS after immune complex stimulation. To obtain further molecular insights into the modulatory effects of propranolol in activated neutrophils, we performed RNA sequencing of immune complex-stimulated neutrophils in the absence and presence of the drug. We identified the transcriptomic signature of propranolol and demonstrated an ADR2-independent immunomodulatory effect. To determine if the anti-inflammatory transcriptomic signature of propranolol also translates into clinical effects, we next evaluated the impact of propranolol in a prototypical neutrophil-dependent skin disease, specifically, antibody transfer-induced epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in mice. To validate the identified propranolol gene signature obtained in human neutrophils, we analyzed a selection of genes by RT-PCR in mouse epidermolysis bullosa acquisita skin and confirmed TNF, among others, to be differentially regulated by propranolol treatment. Our data clearly indicate that, based on its molecular impact on immune complex-activated neutrophils, propranolol is a potential treatment option for neutrophil-mediated inflammatory skin diseases.

Drug Development in Pemphigoid Diseases.

Pemphigoid diseases are organ-specific autoimmune diseases of the skin and/or mucous membranes. They are caused by autoantibodies targeting adhesion molecules located at the dermal-epidermal junction. While the diagnostics of pemphigoid diseases and insights into their pathogenesis have improved significantly, the development of novel treatments that are effective and safe remains an unmet medical need. However, numerous pre-clinical studies and early clinical trials have recently been launched. This review summarizes some pathways leading to drug development in pemphigoid diseases, namely: (i) hypothesis-driven drug development; (ii) omics-based drug development; (iii) drug repurposing; (iv) screening-based drug development; and (v) drug development based on careful clinical observations. Ultimately, it is hoped that this will lead to personalized and curative treatments.

Epidermal Damage Induces Th1 Polarization and Defines the Site of Inflammation in Murine Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by subepidermal blisters. The pathogenesis is mediated by deposits of autoantibodies directed against type VII collagen in the skin, but the sequence of events regulating the localization of skin blisters is not fully understood. In this study, using the immunization-induced mouse model of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, we demonstrate that epidermal disruption induces not only an infiltration of CD4+ T cells but also a T helper type 1 phenotype as it has been described for delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. This T helper type 1 reaction was not found when different antigens were applied. Deep T-cell receptor ß profiling revealed shifts in the V/J gene usage only in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, suggesting an infiltration of autoantigen-specific T cells. To target these autoantigen-specific T cells, we established an approach with which skin inflammation could be prevented without impairing the functionality of autoantibodies. We conclude that T-cell involvement in skin blistering diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa acquisita relates not only to T-cell help for B cells that produce pathogenic autoantibodies but also to autoreactive T helper type 1 effector cells that migrate into injured skin sites, exacerbate inflammation through production of inflammatory cytokines such as IFNγ, and prevent wound healing.

Ocular involvement in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita with long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To describe the ocular manifestations associated with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary bullous disease clinic. Consecutive patients were enrolled with biopsy proven diagnosis of EBA, with ocular involvement and a follow-up of at least 36 months. A multidisciplinary team of dermatologists, ENT specialists and ophthalmologists evaluated all patients. Immunological workup included direct (including immune-electron microscopy) and indirect immunofluorescence. Ophthalmological examination included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and slit-lamp examination with grading of conjunctival fibrosis using the Tauber classification. RESULTS: Nine patients (five females, four males) were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 32 years (range 1-52 years). Follow-up ranged from 3 to 18 years (mean 10.7 years). Conjunctival fibrosis was present in all affected eyes and was stage III or greater in 60% of patients. Eight patients (14 eyes) had corneal involvement most frequently associated with trichiasis-associated mechanical irritation or extensive cicatrising conjunctivitis. Corneal lesions developed on three eyes of three patients without eyelid disease or severe fibrosis or any identifiable triggering factor. Eyelids were affected in six patients, with trichiasis being the most common feature (affecting three patients, four eyes). Corneal-related blindness occurred in at least one eye in 44% of the patients. CONCLUSION: EBA may be associated with devastating ocular manifestations. Most patients develop severe cicatrising conjunctivitis. A subset of patients may present with isolated corneal lesions. Further studies are warranted to assess the effects of systemic treatments on the evolution of ocular manifestations.

[Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita]. / Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a rare acquired subepidermal bullous autoimmune dermatosis, associated with autoantibodies against collagen type VII, the most important component of dermal anchoring fibrils. Blister induction occurs after binding of autoantibodies to collagen type VII, leading to complement activation, recruitment of neutrophils and secretion of proteases. Clinically, the disease is mostly characterized by tense blisters on trauma-exposed body areas which heal with scarring (mechanobullous form of EBA). The second most frequent subtype of EBA is inflammatory EBA, a bullous pemphigoid-like disease associated with pruritus. Involvement of mucous membranes and/or lesions in the head and neck area additionally point to the diagnosis of EBA. The mechanobullous type of EBA and EBA with intensive mucous membrane lesions display a chronic course and are often extremely resistant to therapy. Topical and systemic glucocorticoids, dapsone, colchicine, classical immunosuppressants, anti-CD20 antibodies, immunoadsorption or intravenous immunoglobulins have been reported as treatments.

Detection of anti-type VII collagen IgE antibodies in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.

BACKGROUND: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a rare pemphigoid disease involving autoantibodies to type VII collagen (COL7), a major structural component of anchoring fibrils. IgE autoantibodies to type XVII collagen (BP180) have been identified in bullous pemphigoid (BP), the prototype of pemphigoid diseases. Although the pathogenic relevance of IgG anti-COL7 has been investigated, that of IgE in EBA remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To reveal the presence and pathogenic relevance of IgE anti-COL7 in EBA. METHODS: We examined IgE antibodies in 109 patients with EBA by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: IIF with normal human skin revealed IgE reactivity in the basement membrane zone in 29 (26·6%) cases. To verify whether the IgE antibodies were specific to COL7, we performed IIF with 21 clearly positive cases and the skin of a patient with dystrophic EBA, which does not involve COL7. All cases showed negative results, indicating that IgE antibodies were specific to COL7. In a modified IgG COL7 ELISA for IgE, 16 (14·7%) cases were positive (three and 13 cases were negative and positive on IIF, respectively). We compared anti-COL7 IgG and IgE, and found a weak but significant correlation (r = 0·459, P < 0·001). EBA is clinically divided into a mechanobullous (MB; noninflammatory) type and an inflammatory (INF) type resembling BP. Of the IIF-positive cases, 11 of 30 (37%) had INF and nine of 48 (19%) had MB. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate the presence of circulating anti-COL7 IgE in patients with EBA, which may correlate with the clinical phenotype.

Direct Immunofluorescence of Mechanobullous Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda and Pseudoporphyria.

Mechanobullous epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (mEBA) can have a clinical presentation that is very similar to other blistering diseases, such as porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) and pseudoporphyria. Direct immunofluorescence is an important feature in the diagnosis of mEBA, although features that overlap with PCT and pseudoporphyria have been reported. This retrospective observational study investigated whether direct immunofluorescence can discriminate mEBA from PCT and pseudoporphyria. Biopsies of 13 patients with mEBA, 10 with PCT and 10 with pseudoporphyria were included. In 7 cases of PCT and 4 of pseudoporphyria, direct immunofluorescence showed a pattern at the dermal-epidermal junction that appeared similar to the u-serrated pattern in mEBA. Vessel wall depositions were observed in all 3 diseases, but were more frequent and more intense in PCT and pseudoporphyria than in mEBA. Careful examination of direct immunofluorescence of mEBA vs. PCT and pseudoporphyria revealed different staining patterns, although overlapping features were present. Therefore, integrating all clinical and laboratory data is essential to differentiate between mEBA, PCT and pseudoporphyria.

Meta-analysis of the clinical and immunopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita patients.

BACKGROUND: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an orphan autoimmune disease. Several clinical phenotypes have been described, but subepidermal blistering is characteristic of all variants. Limited data on clinical and immunopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes in EBA are available. To fill this gap, we collected this information from EBA cases, meeting current diagnostic criteria, published between 1971 and 2016. RESULTS: We identified 1159 EBA cases. This number must be, however, interpreted with caution, as it is not possible to check for multiple reporting. The analysis of all cases indicated that EBA affects all age groups (median: 50 years, range: 1 to 94 years) at an equal gender distribution. Non-mechanobullous (non-MB) forms of EBA were observed in 55% of patients, whereas the mechanobullous variant (MB-EBA) or a combination of both variants was described in 38 or 7% of patients, respectively. Type VII collagen (COL7)-specific autoantibodies were primarily of the IgG isotype, but anti-COL7 IgA, IgM and IgE were also documented. Comparison of the 2 clinical EBA types showed a higher frequency of IgA deposits in non-MB EBA as opposed to MB EBA. Mucous membrane involvement was observed in 23% of patients, and 4.4% of cases were associated with other chronic inflammatory diseases. Of note, IgA deposits were more frequently observed in cases with mucous membrane involvement. Our analysis indicated that EBA is difficult to treat and that the choice of treatment varies widely. Chi square was applied to identify medications associated with complete remission (CR). Considering all EBA cases, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, p = 0.0047) and rituximab (p = 0.0114) were associated with CR. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that no treatment was associated with CR for non-MB EBA, while IVIG (p = 0.003) was associated with CR in MB EBA. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the study, we here document the clinical and immunopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes in a large cohort of EBA patients. The observed associations of single drugs with treatment outcome may serve as a guide to develop clinical trials.

The Immunometabolomic Interface Receptor Hydroxycarboxylic Acid Receptor 2 Mediates the Therapeutic Effects of Dimethyl Fumarate in Autoantibody-Induced Skin Inflammation.

The drug dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is in clinical use for the treatment of psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. In addition, it has recently been demonstrated to ameliorate skin pathology in mouse models of pemphigoid diseases, a group of autoimmune blistering diseases of the skin and mucous membranes. However, the mode of action of DMF in inflammatory skin diseases has remained elusive. Therefore, we have investigated here the mechanisms by which DMF improves skin pathology, using the antibody transfer model of bullous pemphigoid-like epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). Experimental EBA was induced by transfer of antibodies against collagen VII that triggered the infiltration of immune cells into the skin and led to inflammatory skin lesions. DMF treatment reduced the infiltration of neutrophils and monocytes into the skin explaining the improved disease outcome in DMF-treated animals. Upon ingestion, DMF is converted to monomethyl fumarate that activates the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCA2). Interestingly, neutrophils and monocytes expressed Hca2. To investigate whether the therapeutic effect of DMF in EBA is mediated by HCA2, we administered oral DMF to Hca2-deficient mice (Hca2-/-) and wild-type littermates (Hca2+/+) and induced EBA. DMF treatment ameliorated skin lesions in Hca2+/+ but not in Hca2-/- animals. These findings demonstrate that HCA2 is a molecular target of DMF treatment in EBA and suggest that HCA2 activation limits skin pathology by inhibiting the infiltration of neutrophils and monocytes into the skin.