Questions About Dh - Duration Of Eruptions, Frequency, Etc.

[nasalady]

Hi,

I'm currently awaiting blood test results - my new gastroenterologist ordered the full celiac panel plus DNA testing through Prometheus. I'll get results on October 3rd.

In the meantime, I've been reading up on various celiac-related topics, including dermatitis herpetiformis. I realized suddenly that in May of 2007 I had a severe outbreak of a rash that started on the trunk and spread to my extremities. The doctor described it in her notes as: "Reddish, pruritic papules. Excoriated papules sparsely distributed over trunk and on forearms."

She never did figure out what it was. I was given a topical steroid cream and after several weeks it gradually went away. That's the only episode of such a rash that I can recall, but my memory is REALLY bad right now. I didn't even remember THAT rash until I re-read the doctor's notes (I recently asked for copies of my medical records).

Is it possible that this was an outbreak of DH? or would just one episode like that make DH unlikely? Thanks in advance....

JoAnn

[nasalady]

  nasalady said:

Hi,

I'm currently awaiting blood test results - my new gastroenterologist ordered the full celiac panel plus DNA testing through Prometheus. I'll get results on October 3rd.

In the meantime, I've been reading up on various celiac-related topics, including dermatitis herpetiformis. I realized suddenly that in May of 2007 I had a severe outbreak of a rash that started on the trunk and spread to my extremities. The doctor described it in her notes as: "Reddish, pruritic papules. Excoriated papules sparsely distributed over trunk and on forearms."

She never did figure out what it was. I was given a topical steroid cream and after several weeks it gradually went away. That's the only episode of such a rash that I can recall, but my memory is REALLY bad right now. I didn't even remember THAT rash until I re-read the doctor's notes (I recently asked for copies of my medical records).

Is it possible that this was an outbreak of DH? or would just one episode like that make DH unlikely? Thanks in advance....

JoAnn

Maybe I need to re-state this:

1. Can DH happen once, for several weeks, and then go away and not come back?

2. Does DH look like little blisters and red bumps?

JoAnn

[ravenwoodglass]

  nasalady said:

Maybe I need to re-state this:

1. Can DH happen once, for several weeks, and then go away and not come back?

2. Does DH look like little blisters and red bumps?

JoAnn

1. You may very well see this reappear. When it does ask for a referral to a derm. They can biopsy the area beside the rash, make sure they don't do the rash itself. The antibodies are found in the intact skin next to the outbreak. If that rash is positive for DH you don't need to look any furthur on the celiac trail as that would be a firm diagnosis of celiac. In my particular case early on my rashes used to disappear for a couple months after a course of steriods but they would always come back. Eventually I would always have an outbreak somewhere. Hopefully others will respond with their experience as often there are differences.

2. Yes that is what DH looks like. It also leaves a distinctive purple colored scar that takes a long time to fade.

[nasalady]

  ravenwoodglass said:

1. You may very well see this reappear. When it does ask for a referral to a derm. They can biopsy the area beside the rash, make sure they don't do the rash itself. The antibodies are found in the intact skin next to the outbreak. If that rash is positive for DH you don't need to look any furthur on the celiac trail as that would be a firm diagnosis of celiac. In my particular case early on my rashes used to disappear for a couple months after a course of steriods but they would always come back. Eventually I would always have an outbreak somewhere. Hopefully others will respond with their experience as often there are differences.

2. Yes that is what DH looks like. It also leaves a distinctive purple colored scar that takes a long time to fade.

Thanks for the helpful reply! If the rash returns, I will definitely see a dermatologist.

JoAnn

[mags]

"They can biopsy the area beside the rash, make sure they don't do the rash itself. The antibodies are found in the intact skin next to the outbreak. "

I had a biopsy done wrong--of the lesion itself. Has anyone else had this happen and do you know what were the conclusions of the pathologist?

Mine said "lymphocytic infiltration with eosinophils consistent with urticaria or drug eruption" which my dermatologist explained to me means nothing.