[Importance of image analysis in immunoelectron microscopy. Visualization of heterogeneous reactivity of sera from patients with linear IgA dermatitis bullosa with structures of the dermo-epidermal junction].

Interpretation of electron microscopy pictures illustrating immunoperoxidase labelling is often difficult for non-specialists. We used an image analysis system to facilitate the comprehension of the results obtained with indirect immunoperoxidase technique on normal human skin. Sera from patients with linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) were selected on the basis of an exclusive IgA class reactivity with the dermo-epidermal junction. Various patterns of epidermal labelling could be demonstrated with 82% of the immunoreactive sera. Only 2 out of 11 sera reacted with sub-lamina densa antigens. These results confirm the heterogeneous nature of diseases diagnosed, according to the present criteria, as LABD.