Article

Dermatitis herpetiformis in China: a report of 22 cases.

Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, Shandong Provincial Academy of Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (impact factor: 2.98). 10/2011; 26(7):903-7. DOI:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04204.x pp.903-7
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Although dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a relatively common disease in Caucasian populations, it is very rare in the Far East, including China.
To investigate the clinical, histological and immunopathological characteristics of Chinese patients with DH.
The clinical data and serum samples of patients with DH diagnosed at Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology from 2006 to 2010 were collected. Anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA) and anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies were tested using indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. Biopsies of small intestine were performed in those patients who had given informed consent.
The study group consisted of 22 patients with DH. The male to female ratio was 2.1:1; the average age was 44 years. Five patients reported mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Dapsone was used to treat 14 patients, who achieved rapid relief. Direct immunofluorescence showed granular IgA deposits at the papillary tips and/or basement membrane zone in 95.5% (21/22) patients. Fibrillar IgA deposition limited to the papillary tips was also seen in one patient (4.5%). IgA antibodies against EMA and tTG were found in 50% (8/16) and 62.5% (10/16) of patient sera respectively. Small-intestinal biopsies of two patients confirmed the presence of coeliac disease.
The clinical, histological and immunopathological characteristics of Chinese patients with DH are similar to those seen in Caucasian populations. The positive rates of anti-EMA and anti-tTG antibodies were lower compared with those seen in Western countries. DH is not extremely rare in China and should be actively investigated.

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    Article: Recent advances in dermatitis herpetiformis.
    Kimiko Nakajima
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    ABSTRACT: Dermatitis herpetiformis is an autoimmune bullous disease that is associated with gluten sensitivity which typically presents as celiac disease. As both conditions are multifactorial disorders, it is not clear how specific pathogenetic mechanisms may lead to the dysregulation of immune responses in the skin and small bowel, respectively. Recent studies have demonstrated that IgA and antibodies against epidermal transglutaminase 3 play an important role in the pathogenesis of dermatitis herpetiformis. Here, we review recent immunopathological progress in understanding the pathogenesis of dermatitis herpetiformis.
    Clinical and Developmental Immunology 01/2012; 2012:914162. · 1.84 Impact Factor
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    Article: DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS BODIES AND AUTOANTIBODIES TO NONCUTANEOUS ORGANS AND MITOCHONDRIA IN DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS
    Ana Maria, Abreu Velez, Hong Yi, Julia Griffin Girard, Zhe Jiao, Mauricio Duque Ramírez, Luis F Arias, Bruce B Smoller, Samuel C Dudley Jr, Michael S Howard
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
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    Our Dermatology Online. 10/2012; 3(4):283-291.
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Keywords

14 patients
 
22 patients
 
Anti-endomysium antibodies
 
anti-tTG antibodies
 
average age
 
basement membrane zone
 
Chinese patients
 
dermatitis herpetiformis
 
Direct immunofluorescence
 
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
 
female ratio
 
Fibrillar IgA deposition limited
 
granular IgA deposits
 
immunopathological characteristics
 
indirect immunofluorescence
 
mild gastrointestinal symptoms
 
patient sera
 
Shandong Provincial Institute
 
study group
 
Western countries
 

F Zhang