Desmoglein Antibodies (1 and 3) Test

Pemphigus is the name given to a group of often fatal autoimmune, blistering diseases characterized by intraepithelial lesions. It is a severe kind of skin disease. In the case of patients having pemphigus, Antibodies to desmoglein 1 (DSG1) and desmoglein 3 (DSG3) have been shown to be present. Pemphigus foliaceus, a superficial form of pemphigus found in patients will produce antibodies to DSG1. The patients with pemphigus vulgaris, a deeper form of pemphigus, have antibodies to DSG3 and sometimes DSG1 as well. Clinical studies have shown that DSG1 & DSG3 results indicate the presence or absence of pemphigus.

Wear a half-sleeved shirt on as full-sleeved shirt might pose difficulty in pulling up the sleeves. Do not wear sweater or jacket. The patients should be fasting overnight for this test or the blood should be drawn at least one hour after meals to avoid lipemic serum. Please follow the instructions given by the lab before giving the blood for the test.

This test is conducted to diagnose pemphigus in patients. It can also be verified whether it is Pemphigus foliaceus or pemphigus vulgaris.

• Desmoglein 1 Antibody
• Negative <14 U/mL
• Equivocal 14-20 U/mL
• Positive >20 U/mL
• Desmoglein 3 Antibody
• Negative <9 U/mL
• Equivocal 9-20 U/mL
• Positive >20 U/mL

About 1 ml or just 2 teaspoons of the blood sample will be drawn from your body. This test needs to be conducted in a well-equipped diagnostic lab with Desmoglein-Antibodies-1-and-3 test facility. The skin is cleaned with an alcohol pad. In the next step, the needle will be inserted into the body through the vein which is easily visible over the cleaned skin. The blood sample will be collected through the tube attached to the needle which contains the serum gel. The tube is separated from the needle and closed with a lid and with the patient’s name on it. The blood sample tube is shaken down to remove serum from the clot and then it is sent to the research laboratory for examination.