ISSN:
1365-2133
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
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 C3 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.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1978.tb01957.x
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