Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) - symptoms and how to test
Chronic, severe itching and blistering of the skin, known as dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), is a symptom of celiac disease, also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy. About 10% of those with celiac disease also suffer from a rash called DH. People most likely to have DH are adults, males and those of northern European ancestry. To check for DH, a skin biopsy is performed, and the IgA antibodies are then detected using a particular sort of immunofluorescent dye. The presence of these antibodies in the blood and the confirmation of dermatitis herpetiformis by a skin biopsy strongly suggest the presence of celiac disease.