Anti-BP230 IgE autoantibodies in bullous pemphigoid intraindividually correlate with disease activity.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP), the most common subepidermal autoimmune blistering disease, is classically defined by the presence of IgG autoantibodies directed against the hemidesmosomal proteins BP180 (type XVII collagen) and BP230 and the predominance of skin lesions. Several studies have addressed the role of anti-BP180 IgE in patients and experimental models, while data on anti-BP230 IgE are scarce.

Objective: To assess anti-BP230 IgE level by ELISA in BP sera and to correlate it with disease severity and clinical characteristics.