DIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL IN CONFIRMATION OF IMMUNE MEDIATED SKIN LESIONS WITH CLINICO-HISTOLOGICAL CORRELATION: A STUDY OF 70 CASES AT TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

B.D. VAGHANI¹*, H.M. GOSWAMI², M.B. PATEL³, H.R. SHAH⁴, A.A. RAVAL^5
1Department of Pathology, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad - 380 016, Gujarat, India.
²Department of Pathology, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad - 380 016, Gujarat, India.
³Department of Pathology, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad - 380 016, Gujarat, India.
⁴Department of Medicine, Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society Medical College, Ahmedabad - 380 061, Gujarat, India.
⁵Department of Pathology, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad - 380 016, Gujarat, India.
* Corresponding Author : binal9913397576@gmail.com

Received : 26-01-2015     Accepted : 16-02-2015     Published : 02-04-2015
Volume : 7     Issue : 1       Pages : 581 - 587
Int J Microbiol Res 7.1 (2015):581-587

Keywords : Direct Immunofluorescence (DIF), Salt-Split Skin (SSS), Immunobullous lesions, Connective Tissue Disorders
Academic Editor : Dr Manodeep Sen, Dr Sumeeta Soni
Conflict of Interest : None declared

Introduction: Although histopathology remains the gold standard for most dermatological diagnosis, it must be recognized that not all lesions are amenable to definitive “specific” histological diagnosis. The histological features of many inflammatory disorders in particular are non-specific or at best only suggestive of a specific diagnosis. Aims & objectives: The accurate diagnosis of bullous and other immune-mediated skin lesions require combination of clinical, histopathological and Immunofluorescence findings, so as to assess importance of DIF in final diagnosis. Materials & method: A study of 70 cases of immune-mediated skin disorders was done over the period of 8 months. Salt-split skin processing was also done in cases of sub epidermal bullous lesions. Results: Out of total 70 cases, 52 (74.3%) cases were from Immunobullous disorders and 18 (25.7%) cases were from Connective Tissue Disorders. In Immunobullous Disorders (n=52), 36 (69.2%) cases were from Intra-Epidermal bullous lesions and 16 (30.8%) cases were from Sub-Epidermal Bullous Lesions. Conclusion: DIF plays pivotal role in diagnosing immune mediated skin disorders and it plays confirmatory role.