LINEAR IGA DISEASE AND ULCERATIVE-COLITIS

Seventy adult patients with linear IgA disease were studied, Five (7.1 %) also suffered from ulcerative colitis (the prevalence of ulcerative colitis in the U.K. is 0.05%). A further three patients with this ass ociation, from other British centres were also reviewed. In all cases, ulcerative colitis preceded the onset of skin disease, by a median of 6.5 years. The reason for this association remains unclear but the ab normalities in colonic mucosal B cells and mucosal IgA(1) production r eported in patients with ulcerative colitis may be important in the su bsequent development of IgA(1) mediated linear IgA disease.