An elderly patient presents with blistering of the skin.You suspect an autoimmune disorder.If your suspicions are correct,the patient's serum should contain antibodies reactive to
A)talin.
B)vinculin.
C)α-actinin.
D)BPAG.
E)actin.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

BPAG (bullous pemphigoid antigen) is a component of the hemidesmosome in the skin, which is a structure that anchors the epidermis to the basement membrane. In autoimmune bullous pemphigoid, there are antibodies against BPAG, which lead to separation of the epidermis from the underlying dermis, resulting in blistering of the skin. Antibodies against talin and vinculin are found in autoimmune liver diseases, and antibodies against α-actinin are found in certain types of glomerulonephritis. Actin is a cytoskeletal protein and is not typically associated with autoimmune skin diseases.

An Elderly Patient Presents with Blistering of the Skin