Do I need to be eating gluten before skin biopsy?

[Everlong]

Hello I'm new. I have what I'm pretty sure is DH on my elbows and shins. Intensely itchy, red blisters that when scratched look like bites. Back in Sept 2015 I had them on both knees too. I have hives most day, have a burning sensation  and feel 'poisoned' I also have ibs and fibro. 

I came off gluten in Nov and the rash became less red and the itching stopped within a week, I now just have pale brown scars. My GP wanted to test me for celiac disease and asked me to go back on the gluten for 6 weeks but I lasted 7 days. Felt terrible. That was end of December, the rash started up again early Jan and it's worse than ever. I am going to see a dermatologist in the next week or two.

 

Would he be able to get a positive for DH if I've been off gluten or do I need to go back on it again? 

Many thanks.

[squirmingitch]

Yes, you have to be eating gluten for the skin biopsy the same as you do for the blood panel.
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Read this:

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"Many people with DH have no digestive symptoms and only about 40% of them have the positive blood tests (serology) for celiac disease. However, they almost always have the same, gluten-dependent intestinal damage as those with the more common symptoms of celiac disease."

 

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A biopsy is done on a clear spot NEXT to an active lesion NOT ON one.

 

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[Everlong]

Thank you for you reply and the links, I will have a look at them now.

[katelyann812]

3 hours ago, Everlong said:

Hello I'm new. I have what I'm pretty sure is DH on my elbows and shins. Intensely itchy, red blisters that when scratched look like bites. Back in Sept 2015 I had them on both knees too. I have hives most day, have a burning sensation  and feel 'poisoned' I also have ibs and fibro. 

I came off gluten in Nov and the rash became less red and the itching stopped within a week, I now just have pale brown scars. My GP wanted to test me for celiac disease and asked me to go back on the gluten for 6 weeks but I lasted 7 days. Felt terrible. That was end of December, the rash started up again early Jan and it's worse than ever. I am going to see a dermatologist in the next week or two.

 

Would he be able to get a positive for DH if I've been off gluten or do I need to go back on it again? 

Many thanks.

Omg! I was diagnosed with celiac in Nov. I had all the stomach problems. I ate gluten last week.. And have been having the hives ALL over. I just went to the dermatologist and took 2 biopsies in order to see if the hives are connected to DH.

i am suffering! I feel your pain. Any advice you could share with me? 

[squirmingitch]

katelyann, it doesn't matter if your hives are dh. You have celiac disease, no need to be dx'd with dh. You just have to be super careful not to get cross contaminated. Since your gluten exposure was assumedly only once last week then your biopsies will turn up negative for dh IF the derm took them correctly. You would have had to be eating gluten for a while for the biopsies to come up positive. You ought to take a look at hives & dh & compare because they are completely different things.

[squirmingitch]

1 hour ago, Everlong said:

Thank you for you reply and the links, I will have a look at them now.

You're welcome.

[squirmingitch]

1 hour ago, Everlong said:

Thank you for you reply and the links, I will have a look at them now.

You're welcome.

[cyclinglady]

2 hours ago, katelyann812 said:

Omg! I was diagnosed with celiac in Nov. I had all the stomach problems. I ate gluten last week.. And have been having the hives ALL over. I just went to the dermatologist and took 2 biopsies in order to see if the hives are connected to DH.

i am suffering! I feel your pain. Any advice you could share with me? 

If it is not DH, then consider researching a histamine intolerance which may just be temporary.  I am not a doctor, but something to think about.  In any case, remaining gluten-free is critical.  Sorry to hear you were glutened!