Velthuis PJ, Nieboer C, Kater L, Hené RJ.
DOI: 10.2340/0001555569487491

There are conflicting opinions concerning the epidermal immunofluorescence pattern in primary Sj??gren´s syndrome. In a prospective study of 12 patients we found a characteristic pattern of epidermal nuclear/cytoplasmic IgG deposits in 8 (67%). This pattern was associated with the presence of antibodies against SSA/Ro and SSB/La in the serum and was also found in 2 out of 5 LE patients with monospecific antibodies against SSA/Ro. There is a resemblance to the pattern of dust-like particles described in the diseased skin of patients with subacute cutaneous LE. In one patient with primary Sj??gren´s syndrome, IgG deposits were confined to epidermal cell nuclei (in vivo ANA). Instead of antibodies against SSA/Ro or SSB/La, this particular patient had nRNP-antibodies. From this study, we conclude that the epidermal IgG deposits in primary Sj??gren´s syndrome may represent antibody binding to the sites within epidermal cells where the respective antigens are located.