An immunofluorescence study of light chain in pemphigus.

Immunofluorescence studies were made on light (L) chain of immunoglobulins in patients with pemphigus. These patients fell into two groups: a subcorneal bulla group, consisting of 10 patients with Senear-Usher syndrome, and one with pemphigus foliaceus, and a suprabasal bulla group consisting of 8 patients with pemphigus vulgaris. In the former group there was deposition of L chains of either type alone in the intercellular spaces of the upper epidermis: kappa type alone in 9 and lambda type alone in 2 patients. Deposition of L chains of both types was observed in the intercellular spaces of the lower epidermis in all patients of the latter group. No significant difference existed between groups as to the titre of circulating intercellular antibodies of either type. Some comments are made on the significance of the L chain of immunoglobulins in a pemphigus.