Bullous eruption of systemic lupus erythematosus: a clinicopathological study of four cases.

Abstract

We describe the clinical, histological and immunopathological features of four female patients with the bullous eruption of systemic lupus erythematosus (bullous SLE). Three patients had circulating anti-basement membrane zone (BMZ) antibodies, and Western blot analysis in two cases revealed binding to type VII collagen. Immunoelectron microscopy in one of these patients demonstrated deposition of antibody in the lamina densa and sublamina densa regions, thus sharing immunopathological features with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). The vesiculobullous lesions developed 8 months to 6 years after the initial symptoms of SLE, and cleared promptly with dapsone treatment.