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Hi!
 
My dermatologist says he has found it very difficult to get a positive
diagnosis of DH with other patients, even with lots of blisters and repeat
tests. Is this typical or does anyone have some tips for success?
 
Can anyone shed some light on what procedure a doctor would follow who had
the "significant dedication" Dr Murray mentioned (below)? Unfortunately I
have a lot of itching but not much rash. So what to do?
 
>From a message to the list from Joe Murray on 10 Dec 1994 on Dermatitis
Herpetiformis:
"The diagnosis is made by taking a skin biopsy and preforming
immunoflorescence studies on it ( a specialised type of stain in major
laboratories)  The test is usually reliable but it takes a signifigant
dedication to detect early cases where there is a short history of rash
rather than years or months of rash."
 
Thanks,
 
Martha Newton
Los Angeles