Thanks so much for your help!! I decided to Google and guess what I am finding a link to this and SLE I had colon biopsy 10 years ago and was negative for Celiac so I bet it is from my SLE and I was a naughty girl and in the sun No he gave me nothing for itching at least where he done the 2 punch biopsies it doesn't hurt and he took the itching away from there lol I will post some of what I found
Hugs!
Cathy
Dermatitis herpetiformis is an autoimmune disease causing clusters of intensely itchy small blisters and hivelike swellings.
Despite its name, dermatitis herpetiformis has nothing to do with the herpes virus. In people with dermatitis herpetiformis, glutens (proteins) in wheat, rye, and barley products somehow activate the immune system, which attacks parts of the skin and causes the rash and itching. People with dermatitis herpetiformis may develop celiac disease (see Malabsorption: Celiac Disease), which is caused by the gluten sensitivity. These people have a higher incidence of other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, and diabetes. People with dermatitis herpetiformis occasionally develop lymphoma in the intestines.
Small blisters usually develop gradually, mostly on the elbows, knees, buttocks, lower back, and back of the head. Sometimes blisters break out on the face and neck. Itching and burning are likely to be severe. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofenSome Trade Names
ADVIL
MOTRIN
NUPRIN, may worsen the rash.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The diagnosis is based on a skin biopsy, in which doctors find particular kinds and patterns of antibodies in the skin samples.
The blisters do not go away without treatment. The drug dapsone, taken by mouth, almost always provides relief in 1 to 2 days, but requires that blood counts be checked regularly. Once the disease has been brought under control with drugs and the person has followed a strict gluten-free diet (a diet that is free of wheat, rye, and barley) for 6 months or longer, drug treatment usually can be discontinued. However, some people can never discontinue the drug. In most people, any reexposure to gluten, however small, will trigger another outbreak. A gluten-free diet may prevent the development of intestinal lymphoma.
Last full review/revision February 2003
Concurrence of lupus erythematosus and dermatitis herpetiformis. A report of nine cases.
Thomas JR, Su WP.
Nine cases of lupus erythematosus (LE) associated with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), seen at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, were reviewed. The female to male ratio was seven to two. In seven patients DH developed first, followed by systemic LE in five and by discoid LE in two. In two patients systemic LE developed first, followed by DH. Since multiple autoimmune diseases have been reported in association with LE, and since similar HLA antigens have been found in patients with DH or LE, there is very likely an immunologic relationship between the two diseases.
PMID: 6614961 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
The clustered vesicles of bullous systemic lupus erythematosus may resemble those of dermatitis herpetiformis. If the vesicles are larger and widespread, they may resemble the lesions of bullous pemphigoid or epidermolysis bullosa acquisita. Histologically, bullous systemic lupus erythematosus closely resembles dermatitis herpetiformis, which makes both the history and immunofluorescence testing essential for an accurate diagnosis.
Dermatitis Herpetiformis—A Skin Manifestation of a Generalized Disturbance in Immunity
M. G. DAVIES, R. MARKS and G. NUKI
Department of Medicine, Welsh National School of Medicine Heath Park, Cardiff
Accepted for publication 16 December 1977.
Detailed investigations on 42 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) are presented, emphasis being placed on the presence of other disorders having a prominent immunopathogenic basis. These patients and 42 age and sex matched controls were submitted to an extensive clinical and investigative search for the presence of disorders with an immunological basis including the atopic disorders. The findings provided further evidence supporting the association of dermatitis herpetiformis with thyroid disease and pernicious anaemia. A statistically increased incidence of Raynaud's phenomenon and atopy was found in the patients with dermatitis herpetiformis compared to the control group. In addition, of the patients with dermatitis herpetiformis, two had rheumatoid arthritis, two had ulcerative colitis, one had systemic lupus erythematosus and four had splenomegaly. The possible basis for these assdations is discussed and it is suggested that dermatitis herpetiformis may be part of a wider spectrum of disease. Genetic linkage and the formation of immune complexes following exposure to a dietary antigen may both be responsible for the disorders associated with DH.