THE USE OF CONFOCAL LASER SCANNING MICROSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF BULLOUS PEMPHIGOID OF LEVER

Abstract

Diagnostics of autoimmune bullous dermatoses, including bullous pemphigoid of Lever that is characterized by a large variety of clinical manifestations and in many cases by severe course and high mortality, remains one of the most complicated problems in dermatology. High diagnostic error rates are to be explained not only by variability of the forms of bullous pemphigoid of Lever, but also by insufficient accuracy of existing diagnostic methods, as well as by the complexity of their implementation. Non-invasive diagnostic methods have an undoubted advantage because they allow for prompt results of the assessment and therefore to fasten the initiation of therapy and to avoid damage to the skin, which is extremely important for patients with an autoimmune bullous dermatosis. The most accurate among non-invasive methods is a confocal laser scanning microscopy. The article describes the main features of the method and its potential application for the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid of Lever with two clinical cases.

Keywords

• autoimmune bullous dermatosis
• diagnostics
• bullous pemphigoid of lever
• immunohistochemical examination
• direct immunofluorescence
• confocal laser scanning microscopy