Open AccessSex-differences in Gluten-free Dietary Adherence and Clinical Symptoms in Patients with Long-term Treated Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Author(s) -
Camilla Pasternack,
Kaisa Hervonen,
Eriika Mansikka,
Timo Reunala,
Katri Kaukinen,
Teea Salmi
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
acta dermato-venereologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.982
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1651-2057
pISSN - 0001-5555
DOI - 10.2340/actadv.v102.1072
Subject(s) - dermatitis herpetiformis , medicine , dapsone , coeliac disease , gluten free , dermatology , gluten , disease , cohort , pathology
Dermatitis herpetiformis is a blistering autoimmune skin disease, and a cutaneous manifestation of coeliac disease. The burden of coeliac disease is increased especially in females, but studies concerning sex differences in patients with long-term treated dermatitis herpetiformis are scarce. This questionnaire study compared adherence to a gluten-free diet, clinical symptoms and well-being between females and males in a cohort of 237 long-term treated (median 24 years) patients with dermatitis herpetiformis. Females had better adherence to a gluten-free diet (p = 0.022) and they used dapsone significantly less often at the time of the study than did males (4% vs 13%, p = 0.017). The occurrence of skin symptoms was equal in both sexes, but dermatological quality of life was lower in females (p = 0.024), and gastrointestinal symptoms were more severe among females with dermatitis herpetiformis than among males (p = 0.027). In conclusion, long-term treated female patients with dermatitis herpetiformis have better adherence to a gluten-free diet, but they also experience more severe clinical symptoms compared with males.