AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF ACANTHOLYSIS IN PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS

[摘要] Four biopsy specimens from 3 patients with pemphigus vulgaris were studied by electron microscopy. The structures of the dermis and the basement membrane did not exhibit any striking pathological changes. Acantholysis is due to a loss of the desmosomes which is preceded by a condensation of the tonofilaments and their separation from the desmosomes. Subsequently, the whole epidermal cell undergoes necrosis. Changes were also observed in the melanocytes but their significance awaits further study. Damage to the tonofilaments does not lead to abnormal keratin in pemphigus vulgaris because the epidermal cells die before faulty keratinization could proceed. The etiologic agent remains unknown.