Increased incidence of malignancy in dermatitis herpetiformis. Issue 6358 (1st January 1983)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leonard, J N; Tucker, W F; Fry, J S; Coulter, C A; Boylston, A W; McMinn, R M; Haffenden, G P; Swain, A F; Fry, L
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 286:Issue 6358(1983)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 1983-01-01
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.286.6358.16
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : A retrospective study of 109 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis showed that malignant tumours had developed in seven patients, the expected incidence being 2.93, giving a relative risk of 2.38. In three of the seven patients the malignancy was a lymphoma, giving a relative risk of 100 for this tumour (expected incidence 0.03). In six of the seven patients who developed malignancies small-intestinal biopsy specimens were macroscopically abnormal, giving a relative risk of 4.22 in this group, which is similar to that reported in adult coeliac disease. Patients treated with a gluten-free diet appeared to have a reduced risk of developing malignancy compared with those taking a normal diet (relative risk with gluten-free diet 1.01 and with normal diet 3.09). A small subgroup of eight patients with linear IgA dermatitis herpetiformis were also studied: three developed malignant disease and in one the tumour was a lymphoma.