HISTOPATHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS OF VESICULOBULLOUS LESIONS: A DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH

Abstract

Introduction: Vesiculobullous skin lesions encompass a range of disorders with diverse etiologies, necessitating accurate diagnosis for effective management. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and histopathological analysis are essential for differentiating between these disorders.

Methodology: A retrospective analysis of 150 cases of vesiculobullous lesions was conducted at Saveetha Hospital, Chennai. Clinical data, histopathological findings, and DIF results were analyzed to categorize lesions based on cleavage level and immunological markers.

Results: Patients were mostly over 50 (42.5%), while women made up the majority (56.2%). The most frequent diagnoses were bullous pemphigoid (32.8%), pemphigus vulgaris (26.1%), and dermatitis herpetiformis (16.7%). C3c was the most often found protein (55.2%) in the 58 cases where DIF was done.

Conclusion: Bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris were the predominant vesiculobullous disorders. Histopathology and DIF were essential for accurate diagnosis, though incomplete DIF testing was a limitation. Future studies with larger sample sizes and comprehensive immunofluorescence analysis are recommended.