title: The immunoglobulin-bearing cells in the lamina propria and the clinical response to a gluten-free diet in dermatitis herpetiformis.
abstract: In 17 patients with DH, multiple duodenal and jejunal biopsies were performed. In all patients the small-intestinal biopsy-specimens showed histopathological changes compatible with coeliac disease. Fourteen of the patients maintained a gluten-free diet (GFD) for more than 8 months. The small-intestinal lesions improved in all patients investigated during the GFD. The dosage of Dapsone needed to control the sin lesions could be reduced by more than 50% in 4 patients and the Dapsone could be stopped in 5 other patients on GFD. The immunoglobulin-bearing cells in the lamina propria were counted in 8 patients not on a gluten-free diet, in 6 patients on gluten-free diet, and in 8 healthy controls. The numbers of IgA-, IgM- and IgG-bearing cells were increased in most of the DH patients who were not on a gluten-free diet. The number of IgM-bearing cells in the DH patients who were on a gluten-free diet was the same as that in the control group. This may indicate a mainly IgM response in the lamina propria induced by gluten.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D003622:Dapsone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003874:Dermatitis Herpetiformis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005983:Glutens; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D005983:Glutens; D003622:Dapsone