Gliadin subfraction skin test for the diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Skin hypersensitivity to a gliadin subfraction (Fraction 3) was tested in patients with coeliac disease, patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and controls. Those with coeliac disease showed substantially greater hypersensitivity than controls, but there was no significant difference between the frequency of hypersensitivity in patients with coeliac disease and in those with inflammatory bowel disease. Fraction 3 did not provide a sufficiently specific skin reaction to be of use in the diagnosis of coeliac disease.