Comparative electron microscopic study between Mendes da Costa's disease and recessive epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica.

An electron microscopic study of Mendes da Costa's disease (MCD) has been undertaken to determine whether this disease is a variant of epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica, or should be classified as a separate disease entity. It was shown that in MCD lacunae occur in the lower layers of the epidermis, in the presence of normal anchoring fibrils. In the recessive form of epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica (EBD), however, no lacunae were found in the epidermis, and anchoring fibrils were absent. These findings support the concept that MCD should not be considered as a special form of epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica.