ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS

SUMMARY.— Biopsy specimens from 2 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis have been studied by electron microscopy. The basal lamina showed considerable alteration. In some regions it was completely absent. Where present it showed breaks, considerable thickening, and increase in electron density; it may or may not be applied to the epidermis. The cells of the stratum basale showed changes in their basal regions, but the superficial regions appeared normal. Pseudopodium‐like processes extended into the dermis. The cytoplasm within these processes had a low electron density and contained few organelles, but glycogen was frequently present both in the processes and elsewhere in the cytoplasm. Half‐desmosomes were absent where the basal lamina was lacking, and where it was present they were decreased in number or absent. The dermis showed little alteration apart from infiltration with leucocytes. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved