TY - JOUR TI - Correlation of antibodies against desmogleins 1 and 3 with indirect immunofluorescence and disease status in a Greek population with pemphigus vulgaris AU - Avgerinou, G. AU - Papafragkaki, D.-K. AU - Nasiopoulou, A. AU - Markantoni, V. AU - Arapaki, A. AU - Servitzoglou, M. AU - Katsambas, A. AU - Stavropoulos, P.G. JO - Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology PY - 2013 VL - 27 TODO - 4 SP - 430-435 PB - SN - 0926-9959, 1468-3083 TODO - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04428.x TODO - desmoglein 1; desmoglein 1 antibody; desmoglein 3; desmoglein 3 antibody, adult; antibody titer; article; correlation analysis; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; Greece; human; immunofluorescence; major clinical study; male; pemphigus vulgaris; population; priority journal, Autoantibodies; Desmoglein 1; Desmoglein 3; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Greece; Humans; Pemphigus; Retrospective Studies TODO - Background The use of ELISA testing of antibodies to desmogleins 1 and 3 (anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) has been strongly supported for the serologic diagnosis of pemphigus. The purpose of this study was to correlate anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 with IIF values, disease localization, treatment and clinical course in Greek patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Methods A total of 54 patients with PV had ELISA serum testing for the presence and titers of anti-Dsg1, anti-Dsg3 and IIF. Anti-Dsg1, anti-Dsg3 and IIF were correlated with treatment and disease localization. For 40 patients, titers of anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 were assessed in relation to treatment and clinical course after 12 months. Results Anti-Dsg3 and anti-Dsg1 positivity in patients with negative IIF was 70.6% and 58.8%, respectively. Anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 were positive in 89.3% and 100% of patients with mucocutaneous disease, respectively, 88.9% and 66.7% of patients with skin limited disease, respectively and 52.9% and 76.5% of patients with mucosal limited disease, respectively. Both antibody titers showed significant correlation with IIF and treatment status. Improvement of clinical status was associated with significant decrease of both anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 after 12 months. Conclusions Serum testing of anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 in PV patients not only provides significant correlations with IIF, treatment and disease type, but may serve as a monitoring tool for clinical course and treatment guidance. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2012 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. ER -