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How to Take a Skin Biopsy Correctly to Diagnose Epidermolysis Bullosa and Autoimmune Bullous Diseases

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Blistering Diseases

Abstract

The gold standard in the diagnosis of autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBD) is based on direct immunofluorescence (DIF) of the perilesional skin in the appropriate clinical setting with routine histology consistent wtih an AIBD. Diagnostic modalities for epidermolysis bullosa (EB) include immunofluorescence antigenic mapping (IFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and genetic mutational analysis. Of these, the most preferred is IFM. Because accurate findings for DIF, two options for EB, IFM, and TEM are dependent on obtaining the biopsy specimens from the appropriate sites, placing these in correct storage media, and properly transporting these, it is essential for the clinician to perform the ideal techniques and procedures when obtaining skin specimens for these necessary studies.

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Abbreviations

AIBD:

Autoimmune bullous disease

DIF:

Direct immunofluorescence

EB:

Epidermolysis bullosa

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

H&E:

Hematoxylin and eosin

IFM:

Immunofluorescence antigenic mapping

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, St. George Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Johanna Pauline H. Lazo-Dizon MD, FPDS

  2. Department of Dermatology, St. George Hospital, University of NSW Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Dédée F. Murrell MA(Camb),BMBCh(Oxf),FAAD,MD,FACD,FRCP

Authors
  1. Johanna Pauline H. Lazo-Dizon MD, FPDS
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  2. Dédée F. Murrell MA(Camb),BMBCh(Oxf),FAAD,MD,FACD,FRCP
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dédée F. Murrell MA(Camb),BMBCh(Oxf),FAAD,MD,FACD,FRCP .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, St George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Dédée F. Murrell

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Lazo-Dizon, J.P.H., Murrell, D.F. (2015). How to Take a Skin Biopsy Correctly to Diagnose Epidermolysis Bullosa and Autoimmune Bullous Diseases. In: Murrell, D. (eds) Blistering Diseases. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45698-9_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45698-9_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-45697-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-45698-9

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