Herpes gestations with identical lesions in the newborn. Passive transfer of the disease?

Abstract

Cutaneous lesions of herpes gestationis [a possible autoimmune disease] developed in a newborn on the 5th day of life and disappeared spontaneously after 3 wk. The immunolgoic phenomena were analogous in the mother and child. No circulating or in vivo-bound immunoglobulins were demonstrated, but components 3 and 4 of complement were present at the basement membrane zone. Possible passive transfer of the disease to the newborn, and a supposedly pathogenetic role of immunologic phenomena in herpes gestationis are discussed.