We have seen a patient with transient bullous dermolysis of the newborn (TBD)1 and ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically examined a skin biopsy specimen. New pathologic findings were obtained that may throw light on the pathogenesis of TBD.
Report of a Case.
On November 22, 1988, a Japanese baby girl, with no particular family history, was born by vaginal delivery. From birth, a few blisters sometimes developed on the hands, feet, head, back, and genital region, all of which healed without scarring. The oral mucosa and nails were not affected. Blistering ceased 1 month after birth. A biopsy specimen, including the surrounding normal-appearing skin, was obtained from a blister (Figure 1, left) that had appeared a few days before. A subepidermal blister was seen on light microscopic examination. Immunohistochemically, anti-type VII collagen monoclonal antibody (MAB 1345, Chemicon International Inc, El Segundo, Calif) showed a weak and interrupted linearly positive staining along