Immunopathologic findings in systemic sclerosis patients: clinical and immunopathologic relationships

Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) of the skin biopsy specimens was performed in 62 patients with systemic scleroderma: 26 cases of acrosclerosis (group 1), 26 cases of diffuse scleroderma (group 2) and ten cases of transitional form acrosclerosis-diffuse scleroderma (group 3). If epidermal nuclear fluorescence and lupus band test (LBT) were considered, the results were positive in 15.3% in group 1, 42.3% in group 2, and 10% in group 3. LBT was positive in 13.5% of the cases in groups 1 and 2 and negative in group 3. The immunoglobulin deposits at the dermoepidermal consisted mainly of IgM or a combination of IgG and IgM. There was no correlation between the LBT and antinuclear antibodies as detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) or double immunodiffusion (DID).