An update on direct immunofluorescence for diagnosing dermatitis herpetiformis

Marian Dmochowski; Justyna Gornowicz-Porowska; Monika Bowszyc-Dmochowska

doi:10.5114/ada.2019.91415

An update on direct immunofluorescence for diagnosing dermatitis herpetiformis

Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Dec;36(6):655-658. doi: 10.5114/ada.2019.91415. Epub 2019 Dec 30.

Authors

Marian Dmochowski¹, Justyna Gornowicz-Porowska^{1

2}, Monika Bowszyc-Dmochowska³

Affiliations

¹ Autoimmune Blistering Dermatoses Section, Department of Dermatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
² Department of Medicinal and Cosmetic Natural Products, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
³ Cutaneous Histopathology and Immunopathology Section, Department of Dermatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.

Abstract

This mini-review presents an update on the direct immunofluorescence (DIF) for diagnosing dermatitis herpetiformis. The DIF of uninvolved, perilesional skin is a crucial laboratory procedure in diagnosing dermatitis herpetiformis (DH). IgA deposits at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) of perilesional skin with DIF can also be found in coeliac patients with inflammatory skin diseases different from DH. In certain patients presenting with the rash resembling DH, the deposition of exclusively C3 at DEJ can be found. The term "granular C3 dermatosis" was proposed to name such a rash. Recent data on DH suggest that perhaps the very concept of DH that we are universally accepting now is misleading and should be revised.

Keywords: dermatitis herpetiformis; diagnosis; direct immunofluorescence.

Publication types

Review