[Acquired epidermolysis bullosa in Crohn's disease]

A case of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita associated with colitis granulomatosa (Crohn's disease) is reported. Although the cutaneous lesions of this unusual disease resemble in their clinical, histological and ultrastructural features to those of the hereditary epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica, the epidermolysis bullosa acquisita has to be regarded as a separate entity among the blistering epidermolysis because of its late manifestation in adults without evidence of hereditary disorders. The deposits of immunoglobulins in the involved skin of the acral areas demonstrated fluorescentmicroscopically are discussed in regard of a possible etiopathogenic relation with the primary irritated intestinal disease.