A 30-year-old woman presents with intensely pruritic grouped papulovesicles on her elbows, knees, and buttocks. She reports intermittent diarrhea and bloating. Direct immunofluorescence of a skin biopsy shows granular IgA deposits at the dermal papillae.
- A Bullous pemphigoid
- B Dermatitis herpetiformis ✓
- C Pemphigus vulgaris
- D Linear IgA disease
Correct answer: B. Dermatitis herpetiformis
Explanation
Dermatitis herpetiformis is associated with celiac disease (causing diarrhea) and presents with grouped, intensely pruritic papulovesicles on extensor surfaces. Histopathology shows granular IgA deposits at the dermal papillae. Bullous pemphigoid has linear IgG/C3 at the basement membrane. Pemphigus has intercellular IgG. Linear IgA disease has linear IgA at the basement membrane.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.