Leukocyte reactivity to alpha-gliadin in dermatitis herpetiformis and adult coeliac disease.

The leukocyte adherence inhibition test has been used to study leukocyte reactivity to alpha-gliadin in 20 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and 11 patients with adult coeliac disease. Leukocytes from both groups of patients showed a significant inhibition of leukocyte adherence thus indicating possible cell-mediated reactivity to this fraction of gluten.