HERPES-GESTATIONIS - TIME-COURSE OF THE CHANGE IN ANTIBODY TITER AFTER ABORTION

A 32-year old patient developed herpes gestationis (HG) characterized by edematous and erythematous plaques with bullae on the breast and ab domen in the sixth week of her third pregnancy. Direct immunofluoresce nce study showed a linear deposition of C3 at the basement membrane zo ne of the skin lesions. Although indirect immunofluorescence study sho wed IgG-positive staining at the basement membrane zone, HG factor was negative. Immunoblotting against epidermal extract revealed the prese nce of IgG antibody directed to 180 kDa protein, which was defined as the 180 kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen, in her serum. The skin lesions improved rapidly within 2 weeks after the abortion, while oral admini stration of prednisolone at the dose of 20 mg/day was not effective. I ndirect immunofluorescence and immunoblot was positive at least for 2 months after the abortion without blister formation.