Immunoglobulin deposits in skin in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Immunoglobulin deposits in the dermal-epidermal junction of clinically normal skin from patients with SLE were eluted by acid buffer. The eluates contained antinuclear and antibasement membrane antibody activities. The anti-BM antibody reacted with skin and esophageal but not glomerular basement membrane. Enzymatic studies indicated that the antibody reacted with carbohydrate moeities in the basement membrane. The anti-BM antibody was not present in corresponding sera of SLE patients.