A Rare Case of Dermatitis Herpetiformis Presenting as Fingertip Petechiae

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Amy Weiss
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Dermatology, Somerset, NJ

Shiri Nawrocki
Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway Township, NJ

Ana Cristina Laureano
Scherl Dermatology, Tenafly, NJ

Sharon Scherl
Scherl Dermatology, Tenafly, NJ

Kenneth Shulman
Dermpath Diagnostics New York, Port Chester, NY

Eun Ji Kwon
Dermpath Diagnostics New York, Port Chester, NY

Keywords

dermatitis herpetiformis, celiac disease, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, autoimmune disease, direct immunofluorescence.

Abstract

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an uncommon inflammatory autoimmune disease that most commonly presents as a pruritic, papulovesicular eruption in young children and adolescents. It follows a chronic and relapsing course and usually involves extensor surfaces of the elbows, forearms, buttocks, and knees and can also involve the scalp. DH is usually accompanied by gluten-sensitive enteropathy (celiac disease). In most patients with DH, the enteropathy is asymptomatic. DH is usually a life-long condition that requires continued treatment, including dapsoneand elimination of gluten from the diet. We describe a rare case of a patient who presented with fingertip petechiae as the only initial manifestation of DH. DH should be considered in the differential diagnosis of petechiae of the fingertips, even if it is the only presenting sign.

References

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Published
Jan 28, 2020
DOI https://doi.org/10.25251/skin.4.1.10

Article Details

How to Cite
Weiss, A., Nawrocki, S., Laureano, A. C., Scherl, S., Shulman, K., & Kwon, E. J. (2020). A Rare Case of Dermatitis Herpetiformis Presenting as Fingertip Petechiae. SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine, 4(1), 68–71. https://doi.org/10.25251/skin.4.1.10
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2020): January Issue & Poster Presentations (2020 Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference®)
Section
Brief Articles
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