Complement polymorphism in herpes gestationis: association with C4 null allele

A subset of patients with pemphigoid (herpes) gestationis has serological evidence of celiac disease

BACKGROUND

Pemphigoid (herpes) gestationis (PG) is an uncommon, self-limited disease with other autoimmune associations; however, celiac disease (CD) is not recognized as one.

METHODS

From 71 patients' sera submitted for herpes gestationis factor (HGF) testing over a 5-year period, 12 were consistent with PG demonstrating HGF and increased IgG BP180 antibody levels; these sera were tested for IgA and IgG endomysial antibodies (EMA), epithelial basement membrane zone and cell surface antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence, and for IgA and IgG tissue transglutaminase (transglutaminase 2 or TG2) antibodies, IgA epidermal transglutaminase (transglutaminase 3 or TG3) antibodies, IgG BP230, and IgG desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

RESULTS

Three of 12 patients' sera with PG (25%) had CD antibodies with positive IgA EMA and increased IgA TG2 antibody levels; two of these had positive IgG EMA, and one other had an increased IgA TG3 antibody level.

CONCLUSIONS

A subset of patients with serological findings of PG also has serological evidence of CD, which may have implications in the etiopathogenesis of PG and which reveals important information about the mother's, and possibly her infant's, health.

Skin disease in pregnancy

Skin manifestations during pregnancy are common and diversified. This review will focus on the most important entities to be recognized by obstetricians. These are, on the one hand, physiological changes, where unnecessary investigations should be avoided, and on the other, the specific dermatoses of pregnancy. These develop electively in pregnancy, and they are currently grouped into three disorders: polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, atopic eczema of pregnancy, and pemphigoid gestationis. Arguments for recognition of these are presented including detection of anti-BP180 antibodies. Follow-up and treatment depend on the precise diagnosis. Risks in fetal prognosis may occur in rare pemphigoid gestationis cases.

[Pregnancy-specific dermatoses]

Pregnancy-specific dermatoses include polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, atopic eczema of pregnancy, and pemphigoid gestationis. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and impetigo herpetiformis are not real pregnancy-specific dermatoses but they are important to know considering the fetal and maternal risks. Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy is a pruritic disease that usually occurs in primiparous women during the last trimester of pregnancy. Atopic eczema of pregnancy is still controversial as an entity covering conditions with eczematous lesions, prurigo, or folliculitis, and inconstantly associated with a personal history of atopy. Skin biopsy with direct immunofluorescence or search for serum anti-BPAg1 (180kD) NC16a antibodies is mandatory in pruritic dermatoses of pregnancy in order to rule out pemphigoid gestationis. Serum bile salts levels should be tested whenever a generalized pruritus develops during pregnancy in order to rule out intrahepatic cholestasis.

Rapid quantification of human complement component C4A and C4B genes by capillary gel electrophoresis

Complement component 4 (C4) is an important plasma protein playing a major role in the human defense mechanism against infectious diseases and inflammatory processes. The C4A and C4B genes, encoding the two isoforms of complement 4, are located in the nuclear serine/threonine protein kinase-C4A or B gene-cytochrome 21-hydroxylase-tenascin X module (RP-C4-CYP21-TNX) and manifested by variable copy numbers among individuals between zero to six in the human diploid genome. Quantification of the C4A and C4B genes has great clinical importance since unbalanced production of C4A and C4B proteins might be associated with pathological immune processes. Albeit, high-throughput analysis methods for C4 gene dosage determination are not yet available. Here we present a novel combination of allele-specific PCR and CGE separation for rapid quantification of the C4A and C4B genes where a single-step, single-tube PCR reaction generates two allele-specific (C4A and C4B) and two control amplicons, followed by CGE analysis of the four fragments. The method presented in this paper enables automated and high-throughput gene dosage analysis of large sample cohorts.

Clinicopathological features and HLA tissue typing in pemphigoid gestationis patients in Kuwait

Pemphigoid gestationis (PG) is a rare autoimmune disease of pregnancy. We report a series of 22 cases of PG in Kuwait. They constituted 18% of all the autoimmune bullous diseases registered in our centre over a span of 11 years. PG was observed to be the third most common bullous disease in our region. Ninety-five per cent of the patients were of Arab ethnicity. The clinical features observed in our patients were comparable to those reported elsewhere. Systemic steroids (prednisolone 20-60 mg daily) remained the mainstay of treatment to control the active disease and an optimal dose of 20 mg of prednisolone was maintained throughout the pregnancy and immediate postpartum period. We observed a favourable outcome of pregnancies complicated by PG without any associated maternal or foetal morbidity. Kuwaiti patients with PG were observed to have a predominance of HLA-DR3 and DQ2 antigens. No predominance of HLA-DR4 antigen was observed.

Specific dermatoses of pregnancy: an evidence-based systematic review

OBJECTIVE

We conducted an evidence-based systematic analysis of the literature on specific dermatoses of pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN

The bibliographic databases MEDLINE and EMBASE were screened for studies and reports in all languages about herpes gestationis, pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy, and prurigo of pregnancy from January 1962 to January 2002. As main index terms, including analogs and derivatives, we used the names of specific dermatoses of pregnancy. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, not a primary dermatosis, was included herein because this disorder is associated with pregnancy and its secondary skin manifestations must be differentiated from specific dermatoses of pregnancy. Other sources were abstract books of symposia and congresses, theses, textbooks, monographs, reviews, editorials, letters to the editor, free or rapid communications, and the reference lists from all the articles that were retrieved. All articles selected for inclusion in this review were evaluated critically with regard to their impact factor and evidence-based contribution to this field, as measured by their citation index and impact factor of the journal in which they were published. Approximately 39% of articles met the selection criteria.

RESULTS

The clinical features and prognosis of the specific dermatoses of pregnancy have been delineated through a number of retrospective and cohort studies. The molecular biologic and immunogenetic properties of herpes gestationis, pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy have been further clarified. A meta-analysis in this review reveals a higher prevalence of multiple gestation pregnancy (11.7%) among patients with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. Several investigations have unraveled the fetal complications in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and herpes gestationis. New treatment modalities in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (cholestyramine, ursodeoxycholic acid) and herpes gestationis (cyclosporin, intravenous immunoglobulin, and tetracyclines postpartum) have shown promise and warrant further evaluation.

CONCLUSION

During the past few decades, a significant amount of new data has provided new insights into the classification, pathogenesis, treatment, prognosis, and fetal risks that are associated with the specific dermatoses of pregnancy.

Bullous pemphigoid in pregnancy: contrasting behaviour in two patients

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an increasingly common immunobullous disease of the elderly, and, due to the late age of onset, is rarely seen in women of fertile age. Consequently, to the best of our knowledge no cases of BP in pregnancy have been described. We present two cases of BP that have differed in disease behaviour during pregnancy.

Intermittent low dose itraconazole treatment for onychomycosis--long term follow-up

Eighty-seven patients with toenail onychomycosis were treated with intermittent low-dose itraconazole, 200 mg day(-1) for one week every four weeks; this regimen was repeated six times. A total of 77 patients (88.5%) showed microscopical and cultural cure after 6 months of treatment. A three-year follow-up showed a relapse rate of 6.5% occurring only during the first year after treatment.

Dermatoses of pregnancy

The dermatoses of pregnancy can be classified into the following 3 groups: physiologic skin changes in pregnancy, dermatoses and cutaneous tumors affected by pregnancy, and specific dermatoses of pregnancy. Correct diagnosis and classification are essential for the treatment of these disorders, when necessary. Laboratory investigations are required when the diagnosis remains in question despite a careful history and thorough physical examination. A discussion with the pregnant woman about the nature of her skin condition, and the possible fetal risks associated with it, is imperative.

The specific dermatoses of pregnancy: a re-appraisal

Pregnancy is associated with immunological, endocrine, metabolic and vascular changes that may adversely affect the skin. The specific dermatoses of pregnancy are disease entities almost exclusively related to the pregnancy or the puerperium.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

At the conclusion of this learning activity, participants should be aware of the main entities of the specific pregnancy dermatoses, their clinical presentations, the main diagnostic criteria and therapeutic options.

Pemphigoid gestationis: a review

Pemphigoid gestationis is a rare autoimmune vesiculobullous skin disease closely related to the pemphigoid group of blistering disorders. It is unique in that it is most frequently associated with pregnancy. Diagnosis is made on the basis of the presence of a subepidermal vesicle on routine histologic examination and of linear deposition of the third component of complement along the basement membrane zone of perilesional skin. Abnormal expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules in the placenta may trigger the initiating immunologic event in this organ, which is followed by cross-reactivity with an antigen present in the skin and the characteristic cutaneous signs of the disease. The immunogenetics of this disorder are interesting. A role for the involvement of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens seems likely because of the association with human leukocyte antigens DR3 and DR4. Major histocompatibility complex class III associations have also been observed, as has a high frequency of anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies. We review the current understanding of the molecular biologic and immunogenetic properties of this disease and discuss treatment and potential impact on the fetus.

Clinical features and management of 87 patients with pemphigoid gestationis

Pemphigoid gestationis is a rare vesiculo-bullous disorder of pregnancy. In this review we summarize the clinical data on 142 pregnancies in 87 patients complicated by pemphigoid gestationis. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive clinical overview of this disease.

Severe subepidermal blistering disorder with features of bullous pemphigoid and herpes gestationis

Herpes gestationis (HG) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) are blistering disorders with similar features, including urticarial lesions that progress to blisters and immunodeposition of C3 in a linear pattern at the basement membrane zone. Among their differences, HG is distinguished by its association with pregnancy, the puerperium, or hormonal perturbation. We describe the immunopathologic findings and clinical course in a multiparous woman with a severe blistering eruption. The patient was not pregnant. Malignancy evaluation was negative, and hormonal testing was normal. Histologic examination demonstrated a subepidermal bulla with eosinophils. Direct immunofluorescence showed C3 in a strong linear band at the dermal-epidermal junction. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated circulating IgG and IgG3 antibodies to basement membrane zone (epidermal component on salt-split skin), and complement-fixing IgG. Immunoprecipitation demonstrated antibodies to a 180-kd keratinocyte protein antigen. By clinical definition, this patient has BP. However, her disease presentation demonstrated features of both BP and HG.

A severe persistent case of pemphigoid gestationis treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and cyclosporin

Pemphigoid gestationis is an autoimmune bullous eruption specific to pregnancy. It usually presents in the second or third trimester and is characterized by postpartum exacerbations of the disease. Most cases resolve within a few months of delivery, but the disease may be more persistent, developing characteristics of bullous pemphigoid which can be difficult to treat. We now report a patient with severe pemphigoid gestationis, in whom the disease has persisted for 1.5 years postpartum and who developed features more typical of bullous pemphigoid. We discuss this phenomenon and the management of such cases.

Class II MHC typing in pemphigoid gestationis

Pemphigoid gestationis (PG) is a rare, autoimmune skin disease associated with pregnancy or the immediate post-partum period, previously shown to be associated with the HLA class II antigens DR3 and DR4. Advances in molecular analytical techniques now allow the identification of HLA alleles previously difficult to define by serological assays. Unsuspected polymorphism within the HLA-DR3 and DR4 classes can, therefore, be identified. The aim of our study was to apply these newer techniques to the question of genetic predisposition in PG by re-evaluating the association with DR3 and by studying a possible link with DQ. We have investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism, the DQA, and by sequence specified oligonucleotide probing the DQB and DRB1 (HLA DR) specificities of 41 women with immunofluorescence-confirmed PG. The principal finding of this study is that there is an association between PG and DRB1*0301 (DR3) and DRB1*0401/040X (DR4). Although there is also an increase (P = 0.06) in the concurrent presence of both antigens, this appears to be due to the association with either antigen alone. We also found an increase in the frequency of DQA1*2 (P = 0.016 vs. control) and a decrease in frequency of DQB1*0201 (P = 0.022 vs. controls) and DQB1*0602 (P = 0.026 vs. controls).

Severe case of pemphigoid gestationis with unusual target antigen

We report a severe case of pemphigoid gestationis (PG) with an unusual target antigen. The patient developed a severe itchy macular rash on the abdomen during her fifth pregnancy, at 38 weeks' gestation. The disease persisted for 8 months post-partum, and could only be controlled with high doses of systemic corticosteroids and dapsone. The diagnosis of PG was confirmed by direct and indirect immunofluorescence. A linear band of IgG and C3 was detected at the epidermal aspect of salt-split skin. Immunoblotting studies revealed circulating IgG antibodies binding to a single 200-kDa protein in epidermal extracts. Immunofluorescence studies using trypsinized human keratinocytes demonstrated uniform staining around the cell peripheries, suggesting that the target antigen was not associated with hemidesmosomes. These findings differ from the usual immunological features seen in PG, and suggest further heterogeneity of the antigens involved in PG.