Anti-basement membrane antibodies in sera from patients without bullous pemphigoid

Sera from 208 individuals were examined for antibasement membrane (anti-BM) antibodies by means of an indirect immunofluorescence technique. In sera from patients with bullous pemphigoid 19 of 25 had anti-BM antibodies in titres varying from 80 to 32 000. In 2 of 42 sera from patients with psoriasis, anti-BM antibodies were demonstrated (titres 40-640). Of 58 sera from patients with leg ulcers, antibodies were found in 4 (titres 40-320). Antibodies were found in 2 of 43 patients with cardio-vascular disease (titre 80) and in 1 of 40 control persons (titre 40). Serum from one of the patients with leg ulcers caused a punctate staining pattern unlike the tubular pattern seen in all other positive sera.