[Bullosis in diabetics. Apropos of a new case]

Idiopathic bullae occurring in diabetics constitute an uncommon condition which may reveal the diabetes, announce its decompensation or represent a mere epiphenomenon. The authors report the case of a woman who experienced two episodes of idiopathic bullae: the first one disclosed the diabetes, the second one heralded its decompensation. Both episodes were preceded by painful paraesthesia. The bullae contained a clear and serous fluid and the separation was intradermal. Direct immunofluorescence with anti-fibrin serum only showed fluorescence in the lumen of the bulla and in subjacent dermal areas. Electron microscopy demonstrated that the tissue separation was at the base of the stratum corneum. Other clinical cases and pathogenetic theories found in the literature are reported. In contrast with other bullous diseases occurring in diabetics and often of poor prognosis, idiopathic bullae is a benign condition requiring no more than a symptomatic treatment.