Dermatitis herpetiformis: IgA deposits in gingiva, buccal mucosa, and skin

Fourteen patients who had dermatitis herpetiformis of the skin with no gingival lesions were studied. In each patient biopsy specimens of normal gingiva, buccal mucosa, and perilesional skin were examined for IgA and IgG deposits. Depending on the method of handling biopsy specimens for immunofluorescence, IgA deposits were detected in 21 to 25 percent of gingival specimens, 27 to 46 percent of buccal mucosal specimens, and 64 to 76 percent of skin specimens. The occurrence of IgA deposits in the gingival papillae, a site where lesions of DH have not been reported in the past or observed in this study, suggests that these IgA deposits alone may not play a primary role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Similar immunofluorescent findings of IgA deposits were observed in both quick-frozen biopsy specimens and those placed in holding solution, indicating the suitability of the holding solution for transporting suggested DH biopsy material.