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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor or dermatologist makes a diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid or another skin disorder based on the information you provide about symptoms, a careful examination of the skin abnormality and the results of laboratory tests. These tests include:
- Biopsy. Your doctor will remove a tiny piece of skin (biopsy) from one or more sites where your skin is affected. These tissue samples are stained with specially prepared antibodies and examined under a microscope by a laboratory technician. A particular profile of immune system antibodies revealed in the tissue sample can point toward a diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.
- Blood test. A nurse or assistant may also draw a small sample of blood for a lab test. This test can identify concentrations of immune system proteins in the bloodstream that are typically elevated in people with the disorder.
References
- Bullous pemphigoid. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch112/ch112b.html. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Goldstein BG, et al. Bullous pemphigoid and other pemphigoid disorders. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 15, 2010.
- Stanley J. Bullous pemphigoid. In: Wolff K, et al., eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2950538. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Kirtschig G, et al. Management of bullous pemphigoid: Recommendations for immunomodulatory treatments. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2004;5:319.
- Patton T, et al. Bullous pemphigoid treatment review. Expert Opinion in Pharmacotherapy. 2006;7:2403.
- Glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/gi-osteoporosis.asp. Accessed April 15, 2010.
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