Immunofluorescent studies of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid

Using direct and indirect immunofluorescent techniques, we studied ten patients with cicatricial pemphigoid (chronic cicatricial conjunctivitis). Serologic and histologic evaluation of 13 conjunctival, 12 mucous membrane, and 11 skin specimens from the ten patients showed that three had immunoglobulin deposition at the basement membrane zone of the conjunctiva. One patient had immunoglobulin deposited in the affected skin and oral mucosa. Two patients had circulating basement membrane zone antibodies that bound to their own tissue but not to guinea pig lip or human skin.