Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is a rare autoimmune disease, characterized by the synthesis of anti-collagen VII autoantibodies, the main component of hemidesmosome anchoring fibrils. The antigen-antibody binding elicits a complex inflammatory response, which culminates in the loss of dermo-epidermal adhesion of the skin and/or mucous membranes. Skin fragility with bullae, erosions, and milia in areas of trauma characterizes the mechanobullous form of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn Bras Dermatol
April 2019
Bullous pemphigoid, mucous membrane pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita are subepidermal autoimmune blistering diseases whose antigenic target is located at the basement membrane zone. Mucous membrane pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita can evolve with cicatricial mucosal involvement, leading to respiratory, ocular and/or digestive sequelae with important morbidity. For each of these dermatoses, a literature review covering all therapeutic options was performed.
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