How Big Of An Area Is Needed For Biopsy?

TCA · March 7, 2006

I never thought I could possibly have celiac, until I recently went on a gluten-free diet for my celiac daughter and I have had some amazing results. My joint pain that had been undiagnosed for years is gone. I've been diagnosed with recurrent poison oak for years. I just thought I was hyper allergic to the stuff. It would go away with steroid cream and prednisone and then come back. I even had it when I was on bed rest with my first pregnancy for toxemia. How did I get exposed to it then? It was December on top of that! It dawned on me the other day that I hadn't had any problems in months and started looking at DH as a possibility. It comes up as tiny blisters, sometimes on my feet, palms, fingers, back of my knees, just about anywhere and it itches like crazy!!! It may be poison oak, but I thought it might be worth getting a biopsy next time I have a breakout. It just started on my palms today, but it's only 4 or 5 blisters. How much do you have to have for a biopsy? Am I crazy for thinking of this? I'm really not a hypochondriac, but I've seen such amazing results in my kids and now my joint pains are gone and I'm wondering if this is caused by gluten too.

Also - do you have to be exposed to gluten for a breakout? Can it be a delayed reaction, because I haven't been exposed in a couple of weeks (we all had a reaction then).

Thanks for the help!

penguin · March 7, 2006

You know, I've been thinking about that too! Seems like every spring my hands molt. I get itchy as hell fluid filled bumps that aren't really red, and then my skin peels and it's gone. I get it on the sides of my fingers and on my palms. I'm going to have to pay attention to that...

Well, they can't need that much for a biopsy, it's not like they peel all of your skin off

Ursa Major · March 7, 2006

I read that they only really need ONE blister for a biopsy. They'll take it right beside the blister, that should do it. Go for it, I am sure that's what it is. I've had those same blisters, especially on the sides of my fingers, for many years. Since I've gone gluten free, I rarely have those. And my joint pain is gone, too (even though it seems that not only gluten caused those with me, but lectins and salicylates, too).

Pegster · March 9, 2006

I had a biopsy on each of my elbows right next to a fresh blister. The dr. would have just done one biopsy, but I told him to go for it so I could be sure! It was a very small pinch of skin. I had a stitch or two in each one because it was on the outside of my elbow and I barely can see the tiny scars now (nearly two years later).

TCA · March 10, 2006

I've been through the ringer trying to get in with a dermatologist this week. It was so exasperating. I finally got an appt, but it's in May!!! My family doc finally said he could do a punch biopsy next tues. Is this the right thing? We just started using him and I don't know if he is up on DH or not. Any advice?

Pegster · March 11, 2006

The problem with waiting until May for an appointment is that you may or may not be having an outbreak on that particular day! A knowledgable dermatologist will understand that a fresh blistered area needs to be biopsied. I don't know about the punch biopsy, but if the lab can analyze the sample for the gluten antibodies, it seems reasonable. When my dermatologist suspected dh, he had me call his nurse on a day when I had a blister and he was able to work me into his schedule. The thing is, if you feel better with the gluten free diet and you have a family link for Celiac, you might just want to consider sticking to the diet no matter what your biopsy may show. Many people have positive health changes after going gluten-free even though their test results were inconclusive.

Matilda · March 11, 2006

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Nickie · March 15, 2006

You should have a fresh unscratched blister for the biopsy, and the area around it, when they did my first set of biopsies came back and said it was traumatic dermatitis. So my derm told me to come up anytime I got a new blister to restest again, I did and suggested eliminting DH, he agreed sent it down, sent it down for second opinion and came back positive for DH. The dapsone is working great for me, and have been on gluten free since March 10th, still have sores but in healing stage, the bottom parts of my legs were pretty bad, but the other places, face elbows hands, wonderful. I have had it for 20 years and nobody knew what it was. I finally did the research and found out about DH. Hmmm....maybe I should get paid for that visit!! LOL!!