Linear immunoglobulin A/immunoglobulin G bullous dermatosis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Abstract

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease is characterized by marked bilateral uveitis associated with symmetric vitiligo, alopecia, poliosis and dysacousia. Linear immunoglobulin (Ig)A bullous dermatosis (LABD) is characterized by small, tense, subepidermal bullae caused by IgA type autoantibody targeting the basal lamina. LABD patients sometimes show coexistence of IgG type autoantibody, termed linear IgA/IgG bullous dermatosis (LAGBD). We reported a 35-year-old Japanese male case of combined LAGBD and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. His human leukocyte antigen typing was -A24, B52, C*1202, DR*1502, DQ*0601. Immunoblot revealed that patient sera reacted to both 180- and 230-kDa proteins at the IgA and IgG level. Because Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease and LABD are reported to be associated with other autoimmune diseases, it is probable that Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease and LAGBD in our case may be associated with each other in the pathomechanism. However, we cannot exclude the possibility of this being mere coincidence.