http://jama.jamanetwork.com/ en-us Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:50:48 GMT Silverchair editor@jama.jamanetwork.com webmaster@jama.jamanetwork.com http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=192890 Wed, 19 Jul 2000 00:00:00 GMT Yancey KB, Egan CA. <span class="paragraphSection">Autoimmune blistering diseases are generally distinct entities characterized by relatively consistent clinical, histologic, and immunopathologic findings. These disorders may cause impaired adhesion of epidermis to epidermal basement membrane (eg, the pemphigoid group of disorders [bullous, gestational, and mucous membrane]) or impaired adhesion of epidermal cells to each other (eg, the pemphigus group of disorders). Recent studies have shown that these disorders are characterized by autoantibodies that often display pathogenic (ie, blister-forming) activity in passive transfer models. Interestingly, the autoantigens targeted by these patients' autoantibodies represent important structural proteins that promote cell matrix (eg, pemphigoid) or cell-to-cell (eg, pemphigus) adhesion in skin. Autoimmune blistering diseases are characterized by substantial morbidity (pruritus, pain, disfigurement), and in some instances, mortality (secondary to loss of epidermal barrier function). Treatment with systemic immunosuppressives has reduced morbidity and mortality in patients with these diseases.</span> 284 3 350 356 10.1001/jama.284.3.350 http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=192890