[Herpes gestationis. Immunopathologic studies in mother and child]

Herpes gestationis is a nosologically undefined uncommon bullous disease in pregnancy. In a patient with herpes gestationis C3, C5 und C9 deposits could be demonstrated by immunohistological methods at the epidermal basement membrane (BM). Deposits of immunoglobulins, properdin and C3PA were absent. Autoantibodies against BM were found in the serum of the mother by using rabbit oesophagus but not with normal human skin as antigen. In the sera of mother and child a factor could be demonstrated which in vitro leads to complement fixation in human epidermal BM. Immunopathological findings may speak in favor of a nosological entity of herpes gestationis with respect to dermatitis herpetiformis and bullous pemphigoid.