Immunofluorescence is an immunological method used to demonstrate the presence of antigen and antibodies in tissues or serum. Immunofluorescence techniques have become indispensable in modern pathology laboratories and have greatly contributed to the diagnosis, treatment and understanding of autoimmune bullous diseases, hereditary bullous diseases, collagen-vascular diseases, many inflammatory dermatosis and cutaneous tumors. This review emphasizes the basics of immunofluorescence techniques, methodology, interpretation of the results and the newer advancements in the field.
The application of immunofluorescence techniques in various vesiculobullous disorders will be extensively discussed in the subsequent parts. Part II will deal with the pemphigus group and other dermatological conditions with oral involvement and part III with subepidermal immunobullous diseases.
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Sensitivity of direct immunofluorescence in oral diseases. Study of 125 cases. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 1 May 2008;13(5):E287-91.
Effects of anatomic region on immunofluorescence diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. J Am Acad Dermatol 1985;12:274.
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Direct immunofluorescence of oral mucosal biopsies: A comparison of fresh-frozen tissue and formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded tissue. Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine Sep 1992;21(8):358-63.
Direct immunofluorescence of skin biopsy: Perspective of an immunopathologist. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2010;76(2):150-57.
Autoimmune blistering diseases: An update of diagnostic methods and investigations. Clin Exp Dermatol 1994;19:97-112.
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