Behavior of cutaneous Langerhans' cells and skin reactivity after gold sodium thiomalate treatment of pemphigus vulgaris.

Skin biopsies from pemphigus vulgaris patients in the acute phase of disease and after successful GST therapy were studied in respect to their capacity to express OKT6, OKIa1 and HLA-DR antigens. In comparison to controls, the epidermis overlaying noninvolved skin contained significantly (p = 0.0001) fewer detectable Ia and T6 antigen-bearing Langerhans' cells. Lower epidermal Langerhans' cell density in comparison to controls was detected in both prednisolone-treated and untreated patients. A normalization of prior defective antigen expression was observed in patients in remittence after GST therapy. This correlated with a normal delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (Multitest Mérieux).