Pemphigus vulgaris. Superior sensitivity of monkey esophagus in the determination of pemphigus antibody

Abstract
Green monkey esophagus is a more sensitive substrate than guinea pig esophagus for the demonstration of serum antibodies in patients with pemphigus vulgaris. Five patients with active pemphigus who had demonstrable pemphigus antibodies on monkey esophagus substrate failed to demonstrate pemphigus antibody activity when guinea pig esophagus was employed as a substrate. Pemphigus antibody titers determined on monkey esophagus substrate frequently exceeded, by several dilutions, titers detected with guinea pig esophagus. In no instance was pemphigus antibody titer activity on guinea pig esophagus detected in excess of the pemphigus antibody activity detected on monkey esophagus. The reason for the disparity in the sensitivity of the guinea pig and monkey esophagus substrates is unknown.