Nucleolar, homogeneous and peripheral fluorescence of epidermal nuclei in direct immunofluorescence: 4 cases (author's transl)]

Epidermal nucleolar IgG deposition on direct immunofluorescence of covered normal skin was found in two patients with scleroderma and high serum concentrations of antibody to nucleolar antigen. Epidermal homogeneous and peripheral IgG deposition was also observed in two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, antinuclear antibody of homogeneous staining pattern, but without antibody to extractable nuclear antigen. Epidermal nuclear IgG deposition in a speckled, nucleolar, homogeneous or peripheral pattern appears to correlate with high titer serum antinuclear antibody giving on immunofluorescence the same staining pattern. These immunopathologic findings cannot be considered as being specific of a subset of connective tissue disease.