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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Erythema marginatum and hereditary angioedema
John C Starr1, George W Brasher, Arundhati Rao
1Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Pathology, Scott & White, Scott, Sherwood, TX, USA. jstarr@swmail.sw.org
Objective:
To search for anaphylatoxin activity in plasma during episodes of erythema marginatum, and to evaluate the histology of erythema marginatum by electron microscopy and immunohistologic techniques.
Methods:
Plasma samples were studied for C5a activity by granulocyte aggregation, and C3 conversion by immunoelectrophoresis. A skin biopsy of erythema marginatum was done, and the tissue stained with a rabbit antibody to bradykinin.
Results:
No plasma anaphylatoxin was found. Dense deposits of bradykinin were discovered in stromal tissue and lining endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
Bradykinin may be important in the causality of the erythema marginatum associated with hereditary angioedema.
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