The site of blister formation in dermatitis herpetiformis is within the lamina lucida.

BACKGROUND: Because the initial neutrophilic infiltrate in dermatitis herpetiformis is within the dermal papillae, most investigators have assumed the vesicles occur in this same area. This was supported by electron microscopy studies. In 1983 Klein et al. refuted this concept, suggesting that vesicle formation was within the lamina lucida above the lamina densa. Despite this study, current literature continues to state that blister formation is below the lamina densa.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the ultrastructural site of blister formation in early and late vesicles of dermatitis herpetiformis.

METHODS: We evaluated eight biopsy specimens from four patients by immunomapping with antibodies to bullous pemphigoid antigen, laminin, type IV collagen, and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen.

RESULTS: In both early and late vesicles blister formation was found to be above the lamina densa in the lamina lucida.

CONCLUSION: These findings are contrary to the commonly held concept that the blister in dermatitis herpetiformis is below the lamina densa and confirm the findings of Klein et al. that the site of blister formation in dermatitis herpetiformis is above the lamina densa within the lamina lucida.