The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of Dsg1 and 3 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of pemphigus. Thirty-six patients with pemphigus were enrolled. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology and direct immunofluorescence (DIF). Autoantibodies against Dsg1, and Dsg3 were assayed, by ELISA, in serum of pemphigus patients. In pemphigus vulgaris (PV), anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg 3 antibodies titre were raised above the cut off value in 88.5% and 96.1% of patients respectively. Dsg-3 was more sensitive than Dsg-1(96.2% versus 88.5%) while both have the same specificity 95%. In PF and PH, the only anti-Dsg-1 level was raised in all cases (100%).
Conclusion: In PV Dsg-3 was more sensitive than Dsg-1while in pemphigus foliaceous and pemphigus herpetiformis, only anti-Dsg-1 was detected in all cases (100%). Both anti-Dsg1Ab and anti-Dsg3Ab ELISA values are correlated with the disease activity.