Immunoflorescence: a Refined Investigative Method

Immunofluorescence (IF) is a reliable biochemical staining technique for the detection of antibodies, which are bound to antigen in the tissue or circulating in body fluids. Immunofluorescence techniques take advantage of the selectivity of antibodies for a specific antigen in order to detect target structures in cells and tissues. Fluorochromes, enzymes, radioactive and electro-opaque compounds are among the labelers most commonly used. These techniques are essential to supplement clinical findings and histopathology in the diagnosis of immunobullous disorders. The diagnosis of the subepidermal immunobullous diseases which include bullous pemphigoid, mucosal pemphigoid [cicatricial pemphigoid], epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, linear IgA bullous disease requires clinicopathological correlation; immunofluorescence methods provide a useful adjunct to light microscopy. They permit early diagnosis, treatment and subsequent monitoring of disease activity in patients with potentially life-threatening disorders. Immunofluorescence (direct and indirect) is a sensitive and specific method to detect in situ and circulating autoantibodies in autoimune vesicle-bullous and inflammatory dermatosis. It is considered to be an auxiliary laboratory tool in the conclusive diagnosis of the disease under investigation.