Anti-laminin c1 pemphigoid is an autoimmune subepidermal bullous disease first described in 1996, and has been distinct from previously known subepidermal blistering diseases, such as bullous pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. Circulating autoantibodies of the patients do not react to any known autoantigen of the skin, but react to a 200-kDa molecule (p200) from dermal extracts. The identity of p200 was unmasked as laminin c1, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein composing several forms of laminin heterotrimers. We renamed this disease from the previously used anti-p200 pemphigoid to anti-laminin c1 pemphigoid, a new entity of an autoimmune bullous disease. In this decade, we have experienced over 70 cases of this disease. Although the number of the cases of anti-laminin c1 pemphigoid is half as many as the number of definitely diagnosed cases of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in the same duration, a considerable number of the cases could be clinically misdiagnosed as epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. Unveiling the pathogenicity and development of a useful diagnostic method is necessary for appropriate management of this new disease.

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Laser therapy is the most effective treatment considered for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We compared the foveal morphology of the retina in eyes with a history of ROP to that of full-term children. This cross-sectional comparative study included 74 patients with a history of ROP, aged 4–6 years. Among them, 41 underwent laser treatment for ROP. The clinical findings and retinal morphology in these patients were compared to that of 33 patients who had spontaneous ROP regression and 30 age-matched full-term controls. All the patients with ROP had 20/40 or better best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The foveal thickness was significantly thicker in laser-treated ROP eyes than in regressed ROP eyes and controls. The outer nuclear layer was significantly thicker, and the inner segment (IS) of the photoreceptors and the inner retinal layer were significantly thicker in the laser-treated ROP eyes than that in the control eyes. In the patients with ROP and controls, better BCVA was associated positively with deeper foveal depression, which was associated with a later gestational age. Our results suggest that prematurity and laser treatment affect the foveal morphology and BCVA.

The most effective treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is considered as the laser therapy. We compared the foveal morphology of the retina in eyes with a history of ROP with that of full-term children. This was a cross-sectional comparative study. Seventy-eight patients with a history of ROP, aged 4–6 years, were included. Among them, 45 underwent laser treatment for ROP. The clinical findings and retinal morphology in these patients were compared with that of 33 patients who had spontaneous regression of ROP and 30 age-matched full-term controls. All patients with ROP had 20/40 or better best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The foveal thickness was significantly thicker and foveal depression was significantly shallower in laser-treated ROP eyes than in regressed ROP eyes and controls. The outer nuclear layer was significantly thicker, and the inner segment (IS) of the photoreceptors and the inner retinal layer (IRL) were significantly longer in the laser-treated ROP eyes than that in the control eyes. In ROP patients and controls, BCVA was associated with the foveal depression, foveal depression was associated with the gestational age and IS thickness was associated with ROP stage. Our results suggest that prematurity and laser treatment affect the foveal morphology and BCVA.