Main description:

This book provides obligatory study material on courses on autoimmune bullous diseases. Residents and researchers in dermatology and adjacent disciplines can use the book as a quick reference guide when dealing with these patients. The book contains protocols and follows international guidelines.

Currently there is no quick primer on Autoimmune Bullous Diseases for dermatologists who wish to learn the subtleties of diagnosis and management of this group of mucocutaneous diseases.

Since mucous membranes are also included the following medical disciplines might be interested too: oral medicine and stomatology, ENT, ophthalmology, gynaecology, gastro-enterology.

The Center for Blistering Diseases in Groningen has organized since the year 2000 an annual course on Bullous Diseases for dermatologists and pathologists. The staff is selected from the faculty. The course is interactive and problem-oriented. The proposed book would represent the documented practical knowledge of the staff on these diseases. The information should be clear and practical with examples and questions for self-assessment.

Contents:

Part I: Immunology and diagnostic
tests-B-cells,
autoantibodies and isotypes.- Dermatological examination of bullous diseases.- How
to take a biopsy.- Direct
immunofluorescence.-
Indirect immunofluorescence.- Immunoblot.- ELISA
testing.- Part II: Pemphigus-Structure of desmosomes.- Pemphigus foliaceus.- Pemphigus vulgaris.- Paraneoplastic pemphigus.- IgA pemphigus.- Part III: Pemphigoids-Structure of hemidesmosomes and basement
membrane zone.- Cutaneous
pemphigoid.- Mucous membrane pemphigoid.- Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.- Bullous systemic lupus
erythematosus.- Linear IgA
Disease.- Part IV: Other
inflammatory bullous diseases-Dermatitis
herpetiformis.- Erythema multiforme.- Porphyria and pseudoporphyria.- Bullous dermatitis artefacta.- Part V:
Resources-Patient support
groups.- International centres for AIBD.