Role of Direct Immunofluorescence on Outer Root Sheath of Hair Follicle in Monitoring Disease Activity of Pemphigus Vulgaris

The study investigated the effectiveness of using direct immunofluorescence on the outer root sheath of hair follicles to monitor disease activity in patients with pemphigus vulgaris, a condition where the immune system attacks the skin and mucous membranes. The study included 16 patients who had been in clinical remission for at least three months. Both skin biopsy samples and plucked scalp hair samples were stained and analyzed. The results showed that direct immunofluorescence was positive in 13 out of 16 patients (81.25%) for both hair and skin samples. The conclusion drawn from the study was that direct immunofluorescence of hair is a simple, specific, and non-invasive method that can potentially replace repeated skin biopsies for monitoring disease activity in pemphigus vulgaris patients.