What is the Acantholysis?

Acantholysis refers to the loss of attachments between keratinocytes, resulting in the formation of rounded, detached cells within the blister.

What is Acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris?

Specialty. Dermatology. Acantholysis is the loss of intercellular connections, such as desmosomes, resulting in loss of cohesion between keratinocytes, seen in diseases such as pemphigus vulgaris. It is absent in bullous pemphigoid, making it useful for differential diagnosis.

What is the difference between pemphigus and pemphigoid?

Pemphigus affects the outer of the skin (epidermis) and causes lesions and blisters that are easily ruptured. Pemphigoid affects a lower layer of the skin, between the epidermis and the dermis, creating tense blisters that do not break easily.

What is Suprabasilar Acantholysis?

Abstract. Suprabasal acantholysis, a common feature of several inflammatory skin diseases, develops exclusively within the germinative cellular pool of the epidermis. The process induces repair mechanisms by proliferation of cells in the suprabasal layers in whatever conditions it occurs, except in pemphigus vulgaris.

What causes Acantholysis?

Acantholysis is most commonly associated with the pemphigus complex due to autoantibodies against various transmembrane desmosomal glycoproteins (e.g., desmogleins, desmocollins).

What does Acantholysis mean in medicine?

Abstract. Acantholysis means loss of coherence between epidermal cells due to the breakdown of intercellular bridges. It is an important pathogenetic mechanism underlying various bullous disorders, particularly the pemphigus group, as well as many non-blistering disorders.

Are basal cells keratinocytes?

Keratinocytes are found in the outermost layer of the skin, called the epidermis. The epidermis is composed of 95% keratinocyte cells. The cells in the basal layer are sometimes called basal keratinocytes or basal cells.

What is pemphigus Foliaceus in humans?

Pemphigus foliaceus is a rare autoimmune blistering disease which is characterised by superficial blisters, erosions and crusts on the skin. This type of pemphigus is less common than pemphigus vulgaris in Australia but in some parts of the world it is “endemic” and very common.

What does pemphigoid look like on skin?

Bullous pemphigoid mainly affects people over 60. It usually starts as sore, itchy patches. On white skin the patches look red or pink. On brown and black skin they may look dark reddish-brown.

Which is worse pemphigus or pemphigoid?

Pemphigus is a chronic and potentially fatal disease and patients should be counseled accordingly. Bullous pemphigoid is usually less severe and can resolve in 1 – 2 years.

Is Desmoglein a cadherin?

Desmoglein (Dsg) is a cadherin-like adhesion molecule that functions to maintain tissue integrity and facilitates cell–cell communication.

Does Grover’s disease spread?

Grover’s disease is not contagious, even when another person comes into contact with the rash.

What is the medical definition of acantholysis?

A histologically defined condition characterised by a pathologic disruption of intercellular bridges between keratinocytes in the squamous epithelium of mucocutaneous surfaces, resulting in intraepithelial vesication and/or separation of the epithelium from the subjacent dermis. Acantholysis is a misnomer that is retained because it paraphrases…

Is there such thing as a solitary acantholysis?

Acantholysis, with little or no dyskeratosis, can be seen as an incidental phenomenon1009 or as a solitary tumor of the skin – acantholytic acanthoma (see p. 672 ). 1010,1011 This pattern has also been found in multiple papules 1012 and as a variant of epidermal nevus with horn-like processes.

How is acantholysis related to Darier’s disease?

The histologic findings on skin biopsies of Darier’s disease show acantholysis (loss of epidermal adhesion) and dyskeratosis (abnormal keratinization) as the 2 main features. Many cells of the detached stratum malphighii shows loss of intercellular bridges leading to acantholysis.

How is acantholysis used to diagnose pemphigus vulgaris?

[edit on Wikidata] Acantholysis is the loss of intercellular connections, such as desmosomes, resulting in loss of cohesion between keratinocytes, seen in diseases such as pemphigus vulgaris. It is absent in bullous pemphigoid, making it useful for differential diagnosis.