5 cases of allergic contact dermatitis due to budesonide are described. We studied the antigen determinant structures in these cases by applying patch tests with several substances related to budesonide. 2 cases showed cross-reactions to both amcinonide and prednisolone acetate. The antigen determinant structure is also discussed.

Skin biopsy specimens were taken from peripheral skin of a bullous eruption of three patients with bullous pemphigoid. For immunoelectron microscopy these tissue blocks were fixed with periodate‐lysine‐paraformaldehyde. This fixation method turned out to be adequate for preservation of both tissue structure and antigenicity. The deposition of immunoglobulin and complements was observed to gradually decrease from the basal surface of the basal cells to the basal lamina. It is suggested that the antigenic substance of bullous pemphigoid is localized along the basal surface of the basal cells.

No abstract

Ultrastructural localization of pemphigus autoantibodies has been studied, using the periodatelysine‐paraformaldehyde fixation method of McLean et al. The deposition of pemphigus autoantibodies was always found in the intercellular spaces of the epidermis, but not observed between the basal surface of basal cells and the basal lamina. Within desmosomes, a linear deposition of antibodies was also found, coresponding to the intermediate dense layer of Odland.

Antibodies against the cytoplasm of normal human epidermal cells were found in both a newborn baby with incontinentia pigmenti and in her normal mother. These antibodies showed no tissue or species specificity as in the case of anti‐nuclear antibodies in SLE. The antibodies were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence. The antibody titer in the serum of the baby gradually decreased over a period of months while the mother's titer remained high. The generalized vesiculo‐bullous eruption noted at birth subsided with the decrease of antibody titer. The immunoglobulin class of the antibodies was determined to be IgG, which passes through the placental barrier. It is suggested that the anti‐cytoplasmic antibodies produced by some unknown cause in pregnant women could be transferred to the baby and induce a variety of disorders.