[The increase of nuclear DNA in the cells of the malpighian layer in pemphigus vulgaris].

A scanning absorbance cytophotometry of nuclear DNA in the cells of Malpighian layer was made of biopsies obtained from the perilesional areas of 23 patients with different severity of pemphigus vulgaris. The quantity of DNA was expressed in relative units of ploidy with regard to peripheral blood lymphocyte diploid nuclei. The ratio of cells with diploid to tetraploid DNA-values in the Malpighian layer of 30 controls was 71.4 +/- 2.5% to 24.6 +/- 2.7% (p less than 0.05). A statistically significant greater number of cells with tetraploid DNA content and a corresponding lower number of those with the diploid value of DNA was revealed in all the examined patients with pemphigus vulgaris. These changes were most pronounced in the group of seven patients in whom the course of the disease was particularly severe. In these patients the mean ratio of the diploid to tetraploid DNA nuclei was 39.2 +/- 0.8% to 54.6 +/- 2.3% (p less than 0.01).