title: IgA and C3 complement in the uninvolved skin in dermatitis herpetiformis after gluten withdrawal.
abstract: IgA deposits in the skin in 53 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) have been studied in relation to treatment. In 19 patients the disorder was controlled by a gluten-freen diet (GFD) alone, in 13 patients by dapsone and GFD and in 18 by dapsone alone. In 3 patients the skin disorder became insignificant and required no treatment. Of the patients taking a GFD alone, six had been clear of skin lesions for 7 years, 5 for 3--5 years, and 8 for periods of 6 months--3 years. IgA deposits were found in all patients in an initial biopsy in a second biopsy after treatment for periods varying from 1 to 7 years. There was no difference in the quantity of IgA, as assessed by the amount of fluorescence, whether patients were controlled with a GFD alone, GFD and dapsone, dapsone alone, or in those in clinical remission. The C3 component of complement was present in the skin in 3 of the 19 patients (16%) controlled by a GFD alone, 6 of the 13 patients (46%) of those controlled by a GFD and dapsone, and in 12 of 18 (66%) of the patients taking dapsone alone, and in one of the patients in clinical remission.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003874:Dermatitis Herpetiformis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D005983:Glutens; D003622:Dapsone