DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS

Course overview

DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS IS A CHRONIC, AUTOIMMUNE, BLISTERING DISEASE THAT CAUSES AN EXTREMELY PRURITIC RASH THAT PREDOMINANTLY AFFECTS THE EXTENSOR SURFACES. THE CHARACTERISTIC VESICLES ARE OFTEN NOT APPARENT AS THEY ARE DESTROYED BY EXCORIATION. THE DISEASE IS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH GLUTEN-SENSITIVE ENTEROPATHY (GSE); BOTH CONDITIONS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF IGA AUTOANTIBODIES AGAINST TRANSGLUTAMINASES THAT, IN THE CASE OF DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS, ARE DEPOSITED IN THE SUPERFICIAL PAPILLARY DERMIS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.