Summary
Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a subepidermal bullous disease characterized by chronic recurrence of itchy, erythematous papules, urticarial wheals and grouped vesicles that appear symmetrically on the extensor surfaces, buttocks and back. Children and young adults are mostly affected. Prevalence is estimated about 1 to 4 cases/10 000, with incidence ranging from 0,9 (Italy) to 2,6 (Northern Ireland) new cases/100 000/year. The disease is the cutaneous expression of a gluten-sensitive enteropathy identifiable with celiac disease. The clinical and histological pictures of both entities are quite similar. Granular IgA deposits at the dermo-epidermal junction, neutrophils and eosinophils together with activated CD4+ Th2 lymphocytes are supposed to represent the main immune mechanisms that co-operate in the pathogenesis of the disease. A strict gluten withdrawal from diet represents the basis for treatment. *Authors: Prof. P. Fabbri and Prof. M. Caproni (February 2005)*.
