Serologic Test for Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Progressive expansion of the epitope-binding profile of IgA antitransglutaminase antibodies in patients with gluten sensitivity may explain the eventual development of dermatitis herpetiformis in some.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) follows gluten ingestion in some people; it is associated with deposits of IgA at the dermal-epidermal junction and in the papillary dermis. IgA antibodies apparently bind to epidermal transglutaminase 3 (TG3) at these sites. To examine TG3’s role in DH, investigators used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure serum TG2 and TG3 levels in 44 patients with new dermatitis herpetiformis diagnoses, 35 patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathies (GSEs) without DH, and a variety of control groups.

Twenty patients with DH had elevated levels of IgA antibodies to TG2, and 23 had antibodies to TG3. Ten of 19 adults with GSE without DH also had elevated levels. Levels were higher in patients with DH than…

Reviewing Author

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)