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Immunofluorescence Mapping

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Blistering Diseases

Abstract

Immunofluorescence mapping (IFM) is a laboratory technique widely used for the classification of bullous skin diseases. Based on the principles of either direct (DIF) or indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), the method finds its application in acquired immunobullous diseases (AIBD) as well as in different subtypes of the hereditary form of epidermolysis bullosa (EBH).

For the diagnosis of the distinct EBH subtypes, the so-called antigen mapping (AgM) demonstrates (1) the level of split formation (intraepidermal, junctional, dermolytic) as well as (2) the expression of a specific structural protein in the skin (normal, reduced, or lacking).

In AIBD, the so-called salt split skin test (SSST = direct and indirect antibody mapping, AbM) aids in the differential diagnosis of disorders such as the pemphigoid diseases and various subtypes of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) or bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE). The AbM shows the location of binding of autoantibodies and depicts the level of blistering within the skin (intraepidermal, junctional, dermolytic).

Both methods, the AgM and the AbM, reflect important diagnostic information for the clinician with regard to patient consultation about the course (and prognosis) of the respective disease.

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Abbreviations

AbM:

Antibody mapping

AgM:

Antigen mapping

AIBD:

Acquired immunobullous diseases

BMZ:

Basement membrane zone

BP:

Bullous pemphigoid

BSLE:

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus

DEB:

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa

DIF:

Direct immunofluorescence

EB:

Epidermolysis bullosa

EBA:

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita

EBH:

Epidermolysis bullosa hereditaria

EBS:

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

IFM:

Immunofluorescence mapping

IIF:

Indirect immunofluorescence

JEB:

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa

JEB-gen intermed:

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa, generalized intermediate

JEB-gen sev:

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa, generalized severe

NHS:

Normal human skin

SSST:

Salt split skin test

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and EB House Austria, General Hospital Salzburg/Salzburger Landesklinikum (SALK), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU) Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Gabriela Pohla-Gubo PhD

  2. Department of Dermatology, General Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria

    Martin Laimer MD, Johann W. Bauer MD, MBA & Helmut Hintner MD

Authors
  1. Gabriela Pohla-Gubo PhD
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  2. Martin Laimer MD
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  3. Johann W. Bauer MD, MBA
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  4. Helmut Hintner MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriela Pohla-Gubo PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, St George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Dédée F. Murrell

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Pohla-Gubo, G., Laimer, M., Bauer, J.W., Hintner, H. (2015). Immunofluorescence Mapping. In: Murrell, D. (eds) Blistering Diseases. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45698-9_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45698-9_18

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