Diagnostic utility of direct immunofluorescence test panels for cutaneous vasculitis: A scoping review.
Direct immunofluorescence sensitivity for cutaneous vasculitis estimated around 75% in studies reviewed
Diagnostic utility of direct immunofluorescence test panels for cutaneous vasculitis: A scoping review.
Due to the immune-mediated nature of non-infectious cutaneous vasculitis, skin biopsy specimens are often submitted for direct immunofluorescence (direct immunofluorescence) testing when vasculitis is considered clinically.
In this scoping review, we aimed to systematically evaluate the peer-reviewed literature on the utility of direct immunofluorescence in vasculitis to assist with the development of appropriate use criteria by the American Society of Dermatopathology.
Two electronic databases were searched for articles on direct immunofluorescence and vasculitis (January 1975-October 2023).
Of 255 articles identified, 61 met the inclusion criteria.
While vascular immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits on direct immunofluorescence were associated with renal disease, other systemic associations were inconsistent.
Vascular IgG deposition may be overrepresented in ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Granular vascular and epidermal basement membrane zone Ig deposition differentiated hypocomplementemic from normocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis.
This scoping review discovered that direct immunofluorescence testing for vasculitis has been performed not only for diagnostic confirmation of vasculitis but also for disease subtype classification and prediction of systemic associations.
Future studies on test sensitivity of direct immunofluorescence compared to that of histopathology are needed.