[Hereditary pemphigus: the problems of classification, diagnosis and prevention]

Basic principles of present-day classification of hereditary epidermolysis bullosa are outlined, and morphologic grounds for distinguishing common, borderline, and dystrophic e. bullosa are validated. Potentialities of prenatal diagnosis of grave forms of e. bullosa as one of the major means of prevention are discussed. Data of clinical follow-up of 25 patients with common, 5 with borderline, and 29 ones with dystrophic e. bullosa are presented, as are results of 8 cases of prenatal diagnosis. The authors emphasize the necessity of electron microscopic examination of the skin in every case.