Direct immunofluorescence on uninvolved, lesional and perilesional skin in patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus (fogo selvagem).

Background: Research on direct immunofluorescence in pemphigus foliaceus ("fogo selvagem") has been focused mainly on the study of perilesional and lesional skin, while little attention has been given to uninvolved skin. We analyzed the frequency of IgA, IgM, IgG and its subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4) and C3 complement fraction deposition in intercellular spaces (ICS) and basal membrane zone (BMZ) in uninvolved, lesional and perilesional skin from 47 fogo selvagem patients.

Material/methods: For each patient biopsies were collected from lesional, perilesional and uninvolved skin, and then analyzed by direct immunofluorescence.