Albumin deposition in dermal capillary basement membrane in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A preliminary report.

Skin specimens obtained from 24 insulin-dependent diabetics (IDD) and 35 controls were examined by immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy. An increased percentage (greater than 8%) of dermal vessel basement membranes (BM) showing circumferential fluorescence for albumin was observed in 18 of 24 IDD (duration of diabetes 1.5-33 yr) and 1 of 35 controls. Dual label studies using fluorescein-conjugated anti-human albumin and rhodamine-conjugated anti-human BM confirmed that localization of albumin was within the BM. These studies suggest that increased albumin localization in extracellular BM may be widespread in diabetes.