An immunopathological study of herpes-associated erythema multiforme.

Any pathogenetic mechanism proposed for erythema multiforme (EM) must account for the prominent mononuclear cell infiltrate in the skin lesions. The purpose of this study was to characterize immunopathologically, with monoclonal antibodies to human leukocyte antigens, the inflammatory cells in early target lesions of recurrent herpes-associated EM. Cryostat sections of snap-frozen skin biopsies were studied by the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique with use of the following monoclonal antibodies: anti-HLA-DR, anti-Leu M5, anti-Leu 4 + 5b, anti-Leu 3a + 3b, anti-Leu 2a, anti-Leu 14, and anti-Leu 6. The dermal mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in the EM biopsies consisted of monocyte-macrophages and T-lymphocytes, with both helper and suppressor T cells present. Both the dermal inflammatory infiltrate and the overlying keratinocytes were strongly HLA-DR positive. No definite alteration of Langerhans cell number or distribution was noted. These findings are consistent with the characteristics seen in cell-mediated immune reactions in the skin and point to this as a likely immune mechanism for the tissue damage of EM.