[New paraclinical approaches for the diagnosis of autoimmune bullous diseases]

In this paper, four new techniques for the fine diagnosis of autoimmune blistering diseases have been reviewed: immunoelectron microscopy, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence on salt-split-skin substrate and immunoprecipitation. They have allowed a better understanding of the pathogenesis of various diseases such as bullous pemphigoid and epidermolysis bulosa acquisita. Indeed the antigens have been precisely localized at the ultrastructural level and their biochemical nature determined; moreover their synthesis has been studied using cell cultures. The next step will use the molecular biology in order to ultimately define and understand these diseases.