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Anti‐gliadin antibodies and small intestinal mucosal damage in dermatitis herpetiformis
Author(s) -
UNSWORTH D.J.,
LEONARD J.N.,
MCMINN R.M.H.,
SWAIN A.F.,
HOLBOROW E.J.,
FRY LIONEL
Publication year - 1981
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.1365-2133.1981.tb00975.x
Subject(s) - dermatitis herpetiformis , gliadin , antibody , medicine , immunology , dermatology , gluten , pathology , disease
SUMMARY Sera from forty‐six patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) were examined for anti‐gliadin antibodies (AGA) by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and by a simple new immunofluorescent (IF) test. AGA were present in fifteen out of thirty‐two patients taking a normal diet, but in none of the fourteen taking a gluten‐free diet (GFD). The presence of circulating AGA was related to the severity of the enteropathy. AGA were present in all ten patients with a flat mucosa and in four of six with a convoluted mucosa, but in only one out of thirty patients with normal morphology of the small intestine. However, in those patients taking a normal diet and with a normal morphology of the intestine there was evidence of gluten sensitivity compared to those taking a GFD, as the intraepithelial lymphocyte count (IELC) was significantly raised in the peri‐nuclear and supra‐nuclear positions. The study shows that the presence of AGA in the serum is a good indication of the degree of gluten sensitivity as expressed by severe mucosal damage in patients with DH.