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IgA and C3 complement in the uninvolved skin in dermatitis herpetiformis after gluten withdrawal
Author(s) -
FRY LIONEL,
HAFFENDEN G.,
WOJNAROWSKA F.,
THOMPSON B. R.,
SEAH P. P.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1978.tb01957.x
Subject(s) - dapsone , dermatitis herpetiformis , medicine , dermatology , skin biopsy , biopsy , gluten , gastroenterology , pathology , disease
SUMMARY IgA deposits in the skin in 53 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) have been studied in relation to treatment. In 19 patients the disorder was controlled by a gluten‐free diet (GFD) alone, in 13 patients by dapsone and GFD and in 18 by dapsone alone. In 3 patients the skin disorder became insignificant and required no treatment. Of the patients taking a GFD alone, six had been clear of skin lesions for 7 years, 5 for 3–5 years, and 8 for periods of 6 months‐3 years. IgA deposits were found in all patients in an initial biopsy and in a second biopsy after treatment for periods varying from I to 7 years. There was no difference in the quantity of IgA, as assessed by the amount of fluorescence, whether patients were controlled with a GFD alone, GFD and dapsone, dapsone alone, or in those in clinical remission. The C 3 component of complement was present in the skin in 3 of the 19 patients (16%) controlled by a GFD alone, 6 of the 13 patients (46%) of those controlled by a GFD and dapsone, and in 12 of 18 (66%) of the patients taking dapsone alone, and in one of the patients in clinical remission.