CLINICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF CELIAC DISEASE AND DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS IN MALE PATIENTS: A TEN-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

BACKGROUND

Gluten - related diseases, such as celiac disease (CD) and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) are autoimmune conditions triggered by gluten intolerance. CD manifests with a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms, both intestinal and extraintestinal, while DH is a cutaneous manifestation associated with CD. The clinical manifestations of both CD and DH can vary between men and women.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the clinical profiles and histological findings at the time of diagnosis in men with CD and DH, comparing the differences and similarities between the findings.

METHODS

This retrospective study included male patients diagnosed with CD or DH from a specialized private clinic in Curitiba, Brazil. The study involved a review of patients' clinical charts and was carried out over a ten-year period, from January 2014 to January 2024. CD diagnosis was based on positive serological tests and duodenal biopsies graded by Marsh classification. All patients had DH diagnosis was confirmed through clinical assessment and direct immunofluorescence on skin biopsies before CD diagnosis. All patients were ingesting gluten.

RESULTS

The study analyzed 75 male patients, 57 with CD and 18 with DH. Diarrhea was significantly more prevalent in CD patients, while osteoporosis was exclusively observed in the CD group. Mild enteropathy (Marsh I or Marsh II), accounting for 34.7%, was more commonly associated with DH. In both groups, Marsh III predominated, representing 65.3% of cases. Men with CD and DH displayed similar symptoms.

CONCLUSION

There were no significant differences in clinical and histological findings between male patients with CD and DH, apart from a higher incidence of diarrhea in CD patients. Duodenal biopsies are recommended for all DH patients.

BACKGROUND

• Celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis shared genetic background and are frequently underdiagnosed.

BACKGROUND

• Diagnoses of mild enteropathy in both conditions have increased in recent years due to better awareness and improved serological testing.

BACKGROUND

• Women are more affected and studied. There are few studies in men.

BACKGROUND

• Overall, clinical presentations were similar between the two diseases.