CLINICAL FEATURES:
 intensely pruritic symmetric vesicles on extensor surfaces of extremities
 usual onset in childhood
 rare mucous membrane involvement
 gluten-sensitive enteropathy (HLA-A1, HLA-B8, HLA-DR3)

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES:
 subepidermal blisters with neutrophilic microabcesses in papillary dermal tips
 lymphocytic infiltrate around superficial vascular plexus

IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE:
 granular IgA and C3 in papillary dermal tips

DIFFERENTIAL:
 linear IgA bullous dermatosis - chronic bullous disease of childhood
 epidermolysis bullosa acquisita
 bullous lupus erythematosus
 cicatricial pemphigoid
 bullous pemphigoid
 pustular drug eruption

RETURN TO: subepidermal blistering diseases