Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) of childhood is a chronic autoimmune blistering disease characterised by linear deposition of IgA at the cutaneous basement membrane

© 2015 The Authors. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2074 Journal Compilation © 2015 Acta Dermato-Venereologica. ISSN 0001-5555 Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) of childhood is a chronic autoimmune blistering disease characterised by linear deposition of IgA at the cutaneous basement membrane zone (BMZ) (1–4). Although LABD is rare, it represents the most common autoimmune blistering disorder of childhood (1–3, 5, 6). The childhood variant of LABD has a mean age of onset between 4 and 5 years (1, 3, 4). The clinical presentation is characterised by a sudden eruption of clear vesicles and blisters on normal or erythematous skin, affecting at first the perineum and perioral area. Typically, new blisters develop around resolving lesions resulting in an annular or “rosette-like” configuration. Mucosal involvement is common and manifests with conjunctivitis, oral and nasal erosions (2, 3, 4, 6). Ocular lesions can be severe leading to symblepharon, trichiasis, shrinkage of fornices and, rarely, corneal opacities (6). The disease has a chronic relapsing course and in the majority of cases resolves before puberty (1, 5). A few neonatal cases of LABD have been described (7–13). Mucosal involvement was predominant in these patients. We present a rare case of LABD in a neonate with severe ocular manifestations.