Antibasement membrane zone antibodies in localized pretibial pemphigoid.

To clarify the nosologic position of localized pretibial pemphigoid, Western immunoblotting analysis was carried out using the sodium dodecyl sulfate extracts of normal human epidermis. Sera from patients with localized pretibial pemphigoid and generalized bullous pemphigoid reacted with 220- to 240-kd polypeptide, which is a critical point for a definite diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. This result suggests that localized pretibial pemphigoid belongs to the same nosologic position as bullous pemphigoid.