Autoimmunity in patients with Pemphigus foliaceus

The presence of conventional autoantibodies in the sera from 28 patients with Pemphigus foliaceus (South American pemphigus) was investigated. Gastric parietal cell antibody was found in six patients (21.4 per cent); and in two of them mitochondrial antibody was also detected. Antibody to smooth muscle was found in one patient. Based on the above results, the role of autoimmunity in Pemphigus foliaceus was discussed. Nuclear and rheumatoid factors were not detected, and antibodies against glomerular components, salivary duct and thyreoglobulin were not found.