Blistering diseases in Sri Lankan patients

Patients with bullous diseases are commonly encountered in primary care practice in young, middle-aged, and old patients. The diagnosis of blistering diseases of the skin has been done in the past only by histological methods. However, accurate diagnosis cannot be arrived at in most instances by histology alone. This is the first report of the use of immunofluorescence in the diagnosis of immunological blistering diseases in Sri Lanka. Out of 23 cases studied, 7 had pemphigus, 3 had dermatitis herpetiformis, 3 had linear IgA disease, another 3 had bullous pemphigoid, and one patient had pemphigus gestationis. In 6 patients, the diagnosis was not conclusive.