BLISTERING DISORDERS - WHICH ONES CAN BE DEADLY

Many disorders can cause cutaneous blistering. Often, a clinical diagn osis can be made with confidence. Such factors as distribution, size o f blisters, age of onset, family history, presence or absence of scarr ing or inflammation, and tenseness or flaccidity of blisters help to n arrow the differential diagnosis. When immunobullous disease is suspec ted, biopsy for both routine staining and direct immunofluorescence ca n be extremely valuable.