081 Antiviral serum antibodies in patients with autoimmune bullous dermatoses

Autoimmune bullous dermatoses (AIBD) comprise a spectrum of blistering diseases, the most common being pemphigus and pemphigoid. Their autoimmune nature has been well documented but the etiological role of genetic background orvarious environmental factors remains unclear. The occurrence of infections in AIBD patients is probable regarding their immunosuppressive treatment but whether some viruses have the potential to induce pemphigus orpemphigoid is questionable. The aim of our study was to identify the presence of antiviral serum antibodies in newly diagnosed pemphigus and pemphigoid patients prior to immunosuppressive therapy.
Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Authors: Tags: Adaptive Immunity and Autoimmunity Source Type: research