Funding sources This study was financially supported by the Competitive Research Funding of the Tampere University Hospital (grant 9L006, 9F063 and 9N062) and Academy of Finland (KK).
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Reduced mortality in dermatitis herpetiformis: a population-based study of 476 patients
Article first published online: 26 NOV 2012
©The Authors BJD © 2012 British Association of Dermatologists
British Journal of Dermatology
Volume 167, Issue 6, pages 1331–1337, December 2012
How to Cite
Hervonen, K., Alakoski, A., Salmi, T.T., Helakorpi, S., Kautiainen, H., Kaukinen, K., Pukkala, E., Collin, P. and Reunala, T. (2012), Reduced mortality in dermatitis herpetiformis: a population-based study of 476 patients. British Journal of Dermatology, 167: 1331–1337. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.11105.x
Conflicts of interest None declared.
- Issue published online: 26 NOV 2012
- Article first published online: 26 NOV 2012
- Accepted manuscript online: 18 JUN 2012 03:13PM EST
- Accepted for publication 11 June 2012
Background Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an extra-intestinal manifestation of coeliac disease and most patients adhere to a life-long gluten free diet (GFD). Increased mortality rates have been reported in coeliac disease but knowledge in DH is scanty.
Objectives To survey the mortality rate and causes of death in a large cohort of patients with DH.
Material and methods Patients with DH (n = 476 consecutive patients) diagnosed from 1970 onwards at the Tampere University Hospital were analysed for causes of death during 1971–2010. A questionnaire survey on key aspects of health behaviour was performed in patients with DH and comparisons were made with the Finnish population.
Results The total number of deaths during 9079 person years followed up was 77 whereas 110 were expected. The standardized mortality rate (SMR) for all causes of death was significantly reduced, being 0·70 (95% CI 0·55–0·87), and similar in both sexes. The SMR was equal in the patients with DH with (0·73) and without (0·77) small bowel villous atrophy. The SMR was significantly reduced (0·38) for deaths due to cerebrovascular diseases. The SMR due to lymphoproliferative malignancies was significantly increased (6·86) in the first 5 years of follow-up but not thereafter. The questionnaire survey documented that 97·7% of the patients with DH adhered to a GFD. The patients reported significantly less hypercholesterolaemia and there were fewer current and past smokers compared with the age- and sex-matched control population.
Conclusions The present long-term follow-up study of DH documented significantly reduced all-cause and cerebrovascular disease mortality. Strict adherence to a GFD, less smoking and hypercholesterolaemia may play a role in the observed health benefit.