The diagnostic immunologic pattern is granular IgA on the basement membrane region.
Histologically the disease is identical to another in which the IgA is linear (called soundly enough, linear IgA disease), and very similar to bullous pemphigoid in which basement membrane IgG is found.
Your panel should therefore include both.
Immunofluorescence is unfortunately, the only way to go.

Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path
 Consultant Pathologist
 Rotherham General Hospital
 South Yorkshire
 England
        terry.marshall@rothgen.nhs.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: Blachford, Sarah - Histopath Main
[mailto:Sarah.Blachford@ngh.nhs.uk]
Sent: 24 May 2004 16:48
To:
'histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
Subject: [Histonet] dermatitis herpetiformis




What antibodies do people use for diagnosing this.  And do you use
immunofluorescence or avidin biotin

Sarah


Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 
Cliftonville, Northampton NN1 5BD 

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