An elderly patient is seen by his dermatologist because he developed itching and blisters on his skin. If the blistering involves the region indicated by the arrows in this electron micrograph (Basallamina4), and if the patient is shown to have IgG along the same area indicated by the arrows, the patient is probably suffering from
A) dermatitis herpetiformis
B) atopic dermatitis
C) pemphigus vulgaris
D) pemphigus foliaceus
E) bullous pemphigoid

Question

An elderly patient is seen by his dermatologist because he developed itching and blisters on his skin. If the blistering involves the region indicated by the arrows in this electron micrograph (Basallamina4), and if the patient is shown to have IgG along the same area indicated by the arrows, the patient is probably suffering from 
A) dermatitis herpetiformis 
B) atopic dermatitis 
C) pemphigus vulgaris 
D) pemphigus foliaceus 
E) bullous pemphigoid

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electron micrograph shows separation of the epidermis from the dermis, indicating a subepidermal blister. IgG antibody deposition along the basal layer of the epidermis is characteristic of bullous pemphigoid. Dermatitis herpetiformis and pemphigus vulgaris typically have IgA and IgG respectively, while atopic dermatitis and pemphigus foliaceus do not involve the basal layer of the epidermis.

An Elderly Patient Is Seen by His Dermatologist Because He