title: Incidence and prevalence of dermatitis herpetiformis in a country in central Sweden, with comments on the course of the disease and IgA deposits as diagnostic criterion.
abstract: In a defined area of 273 000 inhabitants in Central Sweden a total number of 125 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) were observed during the years 1974-1982. The incidence was calculated for the years 1943-1982 and was found to be 0.86-1.45 patients/100 000 inhabitants/year, which is in agreement with a report from Finland. However, the prevalence of DH in the area was 39.2 patients/100 000 inhabitants, which is much higher than previously reported. Spontaneous transient remissions of more than half a year duration were seen in 20% of the patients. At the end of the study, 16 out of 37 patients (43%) on normal diet used no dapsone because of no or minimal rash. Immunohistochemical demonstration of IgA-deposits at the dermoepidermal junction was found to be a good diagnostic criterion. Granular deposits were seen in all except one patient, also in those needing no dapsone. Five out of 6 patients with a granular-linear pattern were still alive at the end of the study, and all of them needed dapsone for control of the rash.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003874:Dermatitis Herpetiformis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004035:Diet Therapy; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005983:Glutens; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D005983:Glutens; D003622:Dapsone