Immunologic and gastrointestinal abnormalities in dermatitis herpetiformis.

Eighty patients with untreated dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) were studied. The final diagnosis was made after completion of immunofluorescence (IF) studies of the skin, iodine provocation tests and gastrointestinal investigations. IgA deposits in the skin and the HLA-DRw3 B-cell alloantigen can be demonstrated in nearly all cases of DH. Positive iodine provocation test and gastrointestinal abnormalities are present in about 78% of the cases. For diagnostic purposes tissue typing and intestinal biopsy is of value in addition to IF studies of the skin.