skip to main content

BP180 Monitoring — SCE Dermatology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateBlistering DiseasesBP180 MonitoringSCE Dermatology

A 55-year-old woman with BP is being monitored. Her anti-BP180 ELISA titre is rising despite clinical stability. What does a rising anti-BP180 titre indicate?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — Rising anti-BP180 titres may precede clinical relapse by weeks to months — consider preemptive treatment intensification or closer monitoring

Anti-BP180 (NC16A domain) ELISA titres correlate with BP disease activity and can be used for longitudinal monitoring. Rising titres may precede clinical relapse by 4-8 weeks, providing a window for preemptive treatment adjustment. Conversely, falling titres during treatment correlate with clinical improvement and predict successful drug withdrawal. Serial monitoring (every 2-3 months during treatment) provides a useful adjunct to clinical assessment. However, clinical assessment remains primary — some patients have persistent low-level antibodies without clinical disease. The combination of clinical + serological monitoring gives the best prediction of disease activity and treatment needs.

Reference: BAD 2012 BP; BJD Anti-BP180 Monitoring