Serum autoantibodies against the dermal-epidermal junction in patients with chronic pruritic disorders, elderly individuals and blood donors prospectively recruited.

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a subepidermal blistering autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibodies against two structural proteins of the epidermal basal membrane zone (BMZ), BP180 (type XVII collagen) and BP230. Patients are usually old and suffer from severe pruritus. Advanced age and severe pruritus have been hypothesized as potential risk factors for the development of autoantibodies in BP. OBJECTIVES: To prospectively determine anti-BMZ antibodies in sera from patients with advanced age and/or pruritus compared with regular blood donors. METHODS: Sera from (i) patients with chronic pruritic skin disorders (PSD, n = 78; mean age 62 years), (ii) patients with noninflammatory skin disease aged ≥ 70 years (n = 93; mean age 78 years), and (iii) blood donors (n = 50; mean age 41 years) were included. A large panel of validated test systems used for routine diagnosis were employed comprising indirect immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy on monkey oesophagus and human salt-split skin, BP180 NC16A- and BP230-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems, and immunoblotting with various substrates, including LAD-1 (the soluble ectodomain of BP180), BP180, BP230, laminin 332, p200 antigen, laminin γ1 and type VII collagen. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was seen between the three study groups. The same result was obtained when data for IF microscopy, ELISA and immunoblotting were analysed separately. CONCLUSIONS: Neither advanced age nor chronic pruritus have been verified as risk factors for autoantibodies against the epidermal BMZ.

Posterior cephalometric radiographic analysis in obstructive sleep apnea.

Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between posterior facial cephalometric measures and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). We used a consecutive sample of 60 patients with OSAS who underwent upright lateral cephalograms, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), and preoperative and postoperative polysomnography. Successful responders to UPPP were arbitrarily defined as having a respiratory disturbance index reduced to fewer than 20 events per hour. Standard cephalometric measurements were used. Posterior facial height measures were constructed, based on a plane perpendicular to the Frankfort horizontal placed at hyoidale. The total and lower airway lengths were shorter and posterior mandibular height was longer in UPPP responders compared to nonresponders (p < or = .05). There was no difference between the two groups by standard cephalometric measurements. Responders and nonresponders to UPPP have significant differences in posterior airway measures that are not reflected in standard cephalometric measures. Airway length likely is a critical factor in OSAS and surgical response.

Odontogenic tumors that mimic a dentigerous cyst.

Hyperplastic follicular tissue and a dentigerous cyst are the two most common entities associated with the crown of an impacted tooth. However, other diagnostic possibilities, including odontogenic tumors should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pericoronal radiolucency. This article presents three cases of radiolucent lesions that were histologically diagnosed as an odontogenic tumor, and stresses the importance of histological evaluation of all pericoronal radiolucencies.